- 

-I 


v^  —  ^ 


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Jlifc 

DANIEL 
BOONE 


_  THK 

' 


DANIEL  BOONE. 

From  the  portrait  by  Chester  Harding  made  in  1819,  when  Boone 
was  eighty-five  years  old.    (See  pp.  237-239.) 


©ante!  Boone 


BY 
REUBEN  GOLD  THWAITES 

Author  of  "Father  Marquette,"  "The  Colonies,  1492- 

1750,"  "  Down  Historic  Waterways,"  "Afloat  on  the 

Ohio, "etc.;  Editor  of  "The  Jesuit  Relations  and 

Allied  Documents,"  "  Chronicles  of  Border 

Warfare,"  "Wisconsin   Historical 

Collections,"  etc. 


Illustrated 


NEW  YORK 

D.  appleron  &  Companp 
1902 


COPYRIGHT,  1902 
BY  D.  APPLETON   AND   COMPANY 


Published  September,  1902 


TO  THE  MEMORY  OF  THE  LATE 

LYMAN  COPELAND   DEAFER,  LL.D. 

WHOSE  UNPARALLELED  COLLECTION  OF 
MANUSCRIPT  MATERIALS  FOR  WESTERN 
HISTORY  IN  THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 
WISCONSIN  STATE  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

HAS  MADE   PRACTICABLE  THE 
PREPARATION     OF     THIS     LITTLE    BOOK 


PKEFACE 


POETS,  historians,  and  orators  have  for 
a  hundred  years  sung  the  praises  of  Daniel 
Boone  as  the  typical  backwoodsman  of  the 
trans-Alleghany  region.  Despite  popular 
belief,  he  was  not  really  the  founder  of  Ken- 
tucky. Other  explorers  and  hunters  had 
been  there  long  before  him;  he  himself  was 
piloted  through  Cumberland  Gap  by  John 
Finley ;  and  his  was  not  even  the  first  perma- 
nent settlement  in  Kentucky,  for  Harrods- 
burg  preceded  it  by  nearly  a  year;  his  serv- 
ices in  defense  of  the  West,  during  nearly  a 
half  century  of  border  warfare,  were  not 
comparable  to  those  of  George  Rogers  Clark 
or  Benjamin  Logan;  as  a  commonwealth 
builder  he  was  surpassed  by  several.  Nev- 
ertheless, Boone's  picturesque  career  pos- 
sesses a  romantic  and  even  pathetic  interest 
that  can  never  fail  to  charm  the  student  of 
history.  He  was  great  as  a  hunter,  explorer, 
vii 


Daniel  Boone 

surveyor,  and  land-pilot — probably  lie  found 
few  equals  as  a  rifleman;  no  man  on  the 
border  knew  Indians  more  thoroughly  or 
fought  them  more  skilfully  than  he;  his  life 
was  filled  to  the  brim  with  perilous  adven- 
tures. He  was  not  a  man  of  affairs,  he  did 
not  understand  the  art  of  money-getting,  and 
he  lost  his  lands  because,  although  a  sur- 
veyor, he  was  careless  of  legal  forms  of  en- 
try. He  fled  before  the  advance  of  the  civili- 
zation which  he  had  ushered  in :  from  Penn- 
sylvania, wandering  with  his  parents  to 
North  Carolina  in  search  of  broader  lands; 
thence  into  Kentucky  because  the  Carolina 
borders  were  crowded ;  then  to  the  Kanawha 
Valley,  for  the  reason  that  Kentucky  was 
being  settled  too  fast  to  suit  his  fancy ;  lastly 
to  far-off  Missouri,  in  order,  as  he  said,  to 
get  "  elbow  room."  Experiences  similar  to 
his  have  made  misanthropes  of  many  an- 
other man — like  Clark,  for  instance;  but  the 
temperament  of  this  honest,  silent,  nature- 
loving  man  only  mellowed  with  age;  his 
closing  years  were  radiant  with  the  sunshine 
of  serene  content  and  the  dimly  appreciated 
consciousness  of  world-wide  fame;  and  he 
viii 


Preface 

died  full  of  years,  in  heart  a  simple  hunter 
to  the  last — although  he  had  also  served  with 
credit  as  magistrate,  soldier,  and  legislator. 
At  his  death  the  Constitutional  Convention 
of  Missouri  went  into  mourning  for  twenty 
days,  and  the  State  of  Kentucky  claimed  his 
bones,  and  has  erected  over  them  a  suitable 
monument. 

There  have  been  published  many  lives  of 
Boone,  but  none  of  them  in  recent  years. 
Had  the  late  Dr.  Lyman  Copeland  Draper,  of 
.Wisconsin,  ever  written  the  huge  biography 
for  which  he  gathered  materials  throughout 
a  lifetime  of  laborious  collection,  those  vol- 
umes— there  were  to  be  several — would 
doubtless  have  uttered  the  last  possible  word 
concerning  the  famous  Kentucky  pioneer. 
Draper's  manuscript,  however,  never  ad- 
vanced beyond  a  few  chapters;  but  the  raw 
materials  which  he  gathered  for  this  work, 
and  for  many  others  of  like  character,  are 
now  in  the  library  of  the  Wisconsin  State 
Historical  Society,  available  to  all  scholars. 
From  this  almost  inexhaustible  treasure- 
house  the  present  writer  has  obtained  the 
bulk  of  his  information,  and  has  had  the  ad- 

ix 


Daniel  Boone 

vantage  of  being  able  to  consult  numerous 
critical  notes  made  by  his  dear  and  learned 
friend.  A  book  so  small  as  this,  concerning  a 
character  every  phase  of  whose  career  was 
replete  with  thrilling  incident,  would  doubt- 
less not  have  won  the  approbation  of  Dr. 
Draper,  whose  unaccomplished  biographical 
plans  were  all  drawn  upon  a  large  scale; 
but  we  are  living  in  a  busy  age,  and  life  is 
brief — condensation  is  the  necessary  order 
of  the  day.  It  will  always  be  a  source  of  re- 
gret that  Draper's  projected  literary  monu- 
ment to  Boone  was  not  completed  for  the 
press,  although  its  bulk  would  have  been  for- 
bidding to  any  but  specialists,  who  would 
have  sought  its  pages  as  a  cyclopedia  of 
[Western  border  history. 

Through  the  courtesy  both  of  Colonel 
Reuben  T.  Durrett,  of  Louisville,  President 
of  the  Filson  Club,  and  of  Mrs.  Eanck,  we 
are  permitted  to  include  among  our  illustra- 
tions reproductions  of  some  of  the  plates  in 
the  late  George  W.  Eanck's  stately  mono- 
graph upon  Boonesborough.  Aid  in  tracing 
original  portraits  of  Boone  has  been  received 
from  Mrs.  Jennie  C.  Morton  and  .General 


Preface 

Fayette  Hewitt,  of  Frankfort;  Miss  Marjory 
Dawson  and  Mr.  W.  G.  Lackey,  of  St.  Louis ; 
Mr.  William  H.  King,  of  Winnetka,  111. ;  and 
Mr.  J.  Marx  Etting,  of  Philadelphia. 

E.  G.  T. 

MADISON,  Wis.,  1902. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTEB  PAGE 

PREFACE vii 

I.     ANCESTRY  AND  TRAINING 1 

II.    THE  NIMROD  OF  THE  YADKIN      ....  13 

III.  LIFE  ON  THE  BORDER 24 

IV.  RED  MAN  AGAINST  WHITE  MAN  ....  35 
V.    KENTUCKY  REACHED  AT  LAST     ....  55 

VI.     ALONE  IN  THE  WILDERNESS         ....  71 

VII.     PREDECESSORS  AND  CONTEMPORARIES  ...  85 

VIII.    THE  HERO  OF  CLINCH  VALLEY   ....  97 

IX.    THE  SETTLEMENT  OF  KENTUCKY  .        .        .        .113 

X.     Two  YEARS  OF  DARKNESS 129 

XI.    THE  SIEGE  OF  BOONESBOROUGH  ....  146 

XII.     SOLDIER  AND  STATESMAN 169 

XIII.  KENTUCKY'S  PATH  OF  THORNS     ....  192 

XIV.  IN  THE  KANAWHA  VALLEY 211 

XV.    A  SERENE  OLD  AGE 223 

INDEX  .  243 


nil 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTKATIONS 


FACING 
PAOK 

Portrait  of  Daniel  Boone        .        .        .          Frontispiece 

Boone's  powder-horn  and  bake-kettle     ....  30 

A  Boone  tree,  1760 56 

A  survey  note  by  Boone 120 

Fort  Boonesborough 136 

Climax  of  the  treaty 162 

Site  of  Boonesborough  to-day 174 

Boone's  cabin  in  St.  Charles  County,  Missouri      .        .  224 

Nathan  Boone's  house  in  St.  Charles  County,  Missouri  .  230 

Boone's  religious  views  (two  pages)        ....  234 

Boone's  monument  at  Frankfort,  Ky 240 


XV 


DANIEL   BOONE 

CHAPTER  I 

ANCESTRY  AND  TRAINING 

THE  grandfather  of  Daniel  Boone — 
George  by  name — was  born  in  1666  at  the 
peaceful  little  hamlet  of  Stoak,  near  the  city; 
of  Exeter,  in  Devonshire,  England.  His 
father  had  been  a  blacksmith;  but  he  him- 
self acquired  the  weaver's  art.  In  due  time 
George  married  Mary  Maugridge,  a  young 
woman  three  years  his  junior,  and  native  of 
the  neighboring  village  of  Bradninch,  whither 
he  had  gone  to  follow  his  'trade.  This  worthy 
couple,  professed  Quakers,  became  the  par- 
ents of  nine  children,  all  born  in  Bradninch 
— George,  Sarah,  Squire,*  Mary,  John,  Jo- 
seph, Benjamin,  James,  and  Samuel.  All  of 

*  Not  an  abbreviation  of  "esquire,"  as  has  been  supposed, 
but  given  because  of  some  old  family  connection.     This  name 
was  transmitted  through  several  generations  of  Boones. 
3  1 


Daniel  Boone 

these,  except  John,  married,  and  left  numer- 
ous descendants  in  America. 

The  elder  Boones  were  ambitious  for  the 
welfare  of  their  large  family.  They  were 
also  fretful  under  the  bitter  intolerance 
encountered  by  Quakers  in  those  unrestful 
times.  As  the  children  grew  to  maturity, 
the  enterprising  weaver  sought  information 
regarding  the  colony  which  his  coreligionist 
.William  Penn  had,  some  thirty  years  pre- 
vious, established  in  America,  where  were 
promised  cheap  lands,  religious  freedom, 
political  equality,  and  exact  justice  to  all 
men.  There  were  then  no  immigration  bu- 
reaus to  encourage  and  instruct  those  who 
proposed  settling  in  America ;  no  news-letters 
from  traveling  correspondents,  to  tell  the 
people  at  home  about  the  Western  world ;  or 
books  or  pamphlets  illustrating  the  country. 
The  only  method  which  occurred  to  George 
Boone,  of  Bradninch,  by  which  he  could  sat- 
isfy himself  regarding  the  possibilities  of 
Pennsylvania  as  a  future  home  for  his  house- 
hold, was  to  send  out  some  of  his  older  chil- 
dren as  prospectors. 

Accordingly — somewhere  about  1712-14, 
2 


Ancestry  and  Training 

family  tradition  says — young  George  (aged 
from  twenty-two  to  twenty-four  years),  Sa- 
rah (a  year  and  a  half  younger),  and  Squire 
(born  November  25,  1696)  were  despatched 
to  the  promised  land,  and  spent  several 
months  in  its  inspection.  Leaving  Sarah 
and  Squire  in  Pennsylvania,  George  re- 
turned to  his  parents  with  a  favorable  re- 
port. 

On  the  seventeenth  of  August,  1717,  the 
Boones,  parents  and  children,  bade  a  sorrow- 
ful but  brave  farewell  to  their  relatives  and 
friends  in  old  Bradninch,  whom  they  were 
never  again  to  see.  After  journeying  some 
eighty  miles  over  rugged  country  to  the  port 
of  Bristol,  they  there  entered  a  sailing  vessel 
bound  for  Philadelphia,  where  they  safely  ar- 
rived upon  the  tenth  of  October. 

Philadelphia  was  then  but  a  village.  Laid 
out  like  a  checker-board,  with  architecture  of 
severe  simplicity,  its  best  residences  were 
surrounded  by  gardens  and  orchards.  The 
town  was  substantial,  neat,  and  had  the  ap- 
pearance of  prosperity ;  but  the  frontier  was 
not  far  away — beyond  outlying  fields  the  un- 
tamed forest  closed  in  upon  the  little  capital. 

3 


Daniel  Boone 

The  fur  trade  flourished  but  two  or  three 
days'  journey  into  the  forest,  and  Indians 
were  frequently  seen  upon  the  streets. 
When,  therefore,  the  Boones  decided  to  set- 
tle in  what  is  now  Abingdon,  twelve  or  four- 
teen miles  north  of  the  town,  in  a  sparse 
neighborhood  of  Quaker  farmers,  they  at 
once  became  backwoodsmen,  such  as  they  re- 
mained for  the  rest  of  their  lives. 

They  were,  however,  not  long  in  Abing- 
don. Soon  after,  we  find  them  domiciled  a 
few  miles  to  the  northwest  in  the  little  fron- 
tier hamlet  of  North  Wales,  in  Gwynedd 
township;  this  was  a  Welsh  community 
whose  members  had,  a  few  years  before, 
turned  Quakers. 

Sarah  Boone  appears,  about  this  time,  to 
have  married  one  Jacob  Stover,  a  German 
who  settled  in  Oley  township,  now  in  Berks 
County.  The  elder  George  Boone,  now  that 
he  had  become  accustomed  to  moving,  after 
his  long,  quiet  years  as  a  Devonshire  weaver, 
appears  to  have  made  small  ado  over  folding 
his  family  tent  and  seeking  other  pastures. 
In  1718  he  took  out  a  warrant  for  four  hun- 
dred acres  of  land  in  Oley,  and  near  the  close 


Ancestry  and  Training 

of  the  following  year  removed  to  his  daugh- 
ter's neighborhood.  This  time  he  settled  in 
earnest,  for  here  in  Oley — or  rather  the  later 
subdivision  thereof  called  Exeter — he  spent 
the  remainder  of  his  days,  dying  in  his  orig- 
inal log  cabin  there,  in  1744,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-eight.  He  left  eight  children,  fifty- 
two  grandchildren,  and  ten  great-grandchil- 
dren— in  all,  seventy  descendants:  Devon- 
shire men,  Germans,  Welsh,  and  Scotch-Irish 
amalgamated  into  a  sturdy  race  of  American 
pioneers. 

Among  the  early  Welsh  Quakers  in  the 
rustic  neighborhood  of  North  Wales  were  the 
Morgans.  On  the  twenty-third  of  July,  1720, 
at  the  Gwynedd  meeting-house,  in  accordance 
with  the  Quaker  ceremony,  Squire  Boone 
married  Sarah  Morgan,  daughter  of  John. 
A  descendant  tells  us  that  at  this  time 
"  Squire  Boone  was  a  man  of  rather  small 
stature,  fair  complexion,  red  hair,  and  gray 
eyes ;  while  his  wife  was  a  woman  something 
over  the  common  size,  strong  and  active,  with 
black  hair  and  eyes,  and  raised  in  the  Quaker 
order." 

For  ten  or  eleven  years  Squire  and  Sarah 
5 


Daniel  Boone 

Boone  lived  in  Gwynedd  township,  probably 
on  rented  land,  the  former  adding  to  their 
small  income  by  occasional  jobs  of  weaving, 
for  he  had  learned  his  father's  trade.  They 
were  thrifty  folk,  but  it  took  ten  years  under 
these  primitive  conditions  to  accumulate  even 
the  small  sum  sufficient  to  acquire  a  farm  of 
their  own.  Toward  the  close  of  the  year 
1730,  Squire  obtained  for  a  modest  price  a 
grant  of  250  acres  of  land  situated  in  his 
father's  township,  Oley — a  level  tract  adapt- 
ed to  grazing  purposes,  on  Owatin  Creek, 
some  eight  miles  southeast  of  the  present 
city  of  Reading,  and  a  mile  and  a  half  from 
Exeter  meeting-house.  Here,  probably  early 
in  1731,  the  Boones  removed  with  their  four 
children.  Relatives  and  Quaker  neighbors 
assisted,  after  the  manner  of  the  frontier,  in 
erecting  a  log  cabin  for  the  new-comers  and 
in  clearing  and  fencing  for  them  a  small 
patch  of  ground. 

In  this  rude  backwoods  home,  in  the  val- 
ley of  the  Schuylkill,  was  born,  upon  the  sec- 
ond of  November  (new  style),  1734,  Daniel 
Boone,  fourth  son  and  sixth  child  of  Squire 
and  Sarah.  It  is  thought  that  the  name 

6 


Ancestry  and  Training 

Daniel  was  suggested  by  that  of  Daniel 
Boone,  a  well-known  Dutch  painter  who 
had  died  in  London  in  1698,  "  and  who 
may  have  been  known,  or  distantly  related, 
to  the  family."  The  other  children  were: 
Sarah  (born  in  1724),  Israel  (1726),  Samuel 
(1728),  Jonathan  (1730),  Elizabeth  (1732), 
Mary  (1736),  George  (1739),  Edward  (1744), 
Squire,  and  Hannah,  all  of  them  natives  of 
Oley.* 

Born  into  a  frontier  community,  Daniel 
Boone's  entire  life  was  spent  amid  similar 
surroundings,  varying  only  in  degree.  With 
the  sight  of  Indians  he  was  from  the  first 
familiar.  They  frequently  visited  Oley  and 
Exeter,  and  were  cordially  received  by  the 
Quakers.  George  Boone's  house  was  the 
scene  of  many  a  friendly  gathering  of  the 
tribesmen.  When  Daniel  was  eight  years  of 
age,  the  celebrated  Moravian  missionary, 
Count  Zinzendorf,  held  a  synod  in  a  barn  at 
Oley,  a  party  of  converted  Delaware  Indians, 
who  preached  in  favor  of  Christianity,  being 

*  Edward  was  killed  by  Indians  when  thirty -six  years  old, 
and  Squire  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-six.  Their  brothers  and 
sisters  lived  to  ages  varying  from  eighty-three  to  ninety-one. 

7 


Daniel  Boone 

the  principal  attractions  at  this  meeting. 
Thus  young  Boone  started  in  life  with  an  ac- 
curate knowledge  of  the  American  savage, 
which  served  him  well  during  his  later  years 
of  adventurous  exploration  and  settlement- 
building. 

Squire  Boone  appears  soon  to  have  be- 
come a  leader  in  his  community.  His  farm, 
to  whose  acres  he  from  time  to  time  added, 
was  attended  to  as  closely  as  was  usual 
among  the  frontiersmen  of  his  day;  and  at 
home  the  business  of  weaving  was  not  neg- 
lected, for  he  kept  in  frequent  employment 
five  or  six  looms,  making  "  homespun " 
cloths  for  his  neighbors  and  the  market.  He 
had  an  excellent  grazing  range  some  five  or 
six  miles  north  of  the  homestead,  and  each 
season  sent  his  stock  thither,  as  was  the  cus- 
tom at  that  time.  Mrs.  Boone  and  Daniel  ac- 
companied the  cows,  and  from  early  spring 
until  late  in  autumn  lived  in  a  rustic  cabin, 
far  from  any  other  human  beings.  Hard  by, 
over  a  cool  spring,  was  a  dairy-house,  in 
which  the  stout-armed  mother  made  and  kept 
her  butter  and  cheese ;  while  her  favorite  boy 
watched  the  herd  as,  led  by  their  bell-car- 

8 


Ancestry  and  Training 

riers,  they  roamed  at  will  through  the  woods, 
his  duty  at  sunset  being  to  drive  them  to  the 
cabin  for  milking,  and  later  to  lock  them  for 
the  night  within  the  cow-pens,  secure  from 
wild  animals  or  prowling  cattle-thieves. 

While  tending  his  cattle,  a  work  involving 
abundant  leisure,  the  young  herdsman  was 
also  occupied  in  acquiring  the  arts  of  the  for- 
est. For  the  first  two  or  three  years — his 
pastoral  life  having  commenced  at  the  tender 
age  of  ten — his  only  weapon  was  a  slender, 
smoothly  shaved  sapling,  with  a  small  bunch 
of  gnarled  roots  at  the  end,  in  throwing 
which  he  grew  so  expert  as  easily  to  kill 
birds  and  other  small  game.  When  reaching 
the  dignity  of  a  dozen  years,  his  father 
bought  him  a  rifle,  with  which  he  soon  be- 
came an  unerring  marksman.  But,  although 
he  henceforth  provided  wild  meat  enough  for 
the  family,  his  passion  for  hunting  some- 
times led  him  to  neglect  the  cattle,  which 
were  allowed  to  stray  far  from  home  and 
pass  the  night  in  the  deep  forest. 

Soon  each  summer  of  herding  came  to  be 
succeeded  by  a  winter's  hunt.  In  this  occu- 
pation the  boy  roved  far  and  wide  over  the 

9 


Daniel  Boone 

Neversink  mountain-range  to  the  north  and 
west  of  Monocacy  Valley,  killing  and  curing 
game  for  the  family,  and  taking  the  skins  to 
Philadelphia,  where  he  exchanged  them  for 
articles  needed  in  the  chase — long  hunting- 
knives,  and  flints,  lead,  and  powder  for  his 
gun. 

In  those  days  the  children  of  the  frontier 
grew  up  with  but  slight  store  of  such  educa- 
tion as  is  obtainable  from  books.  The  open 
volume  of  nature,  however,  they  carefully 
conned.  The  ways  of  the  wilderness  they 
knew  full  well — concerning  the  storms  and 
floods,  the  trees  and  hills,  the  wild  animals 
and  the  Indians,  they  were  deeply  learned; 
well  they  knew  how  to  live  alone  in  the  forest, 
and  to  thrive  happily  although  surrounded 
by  a  thousand  lurking  dangers.  This  quiet, 
mild-mannered,  serious-faced  Quaker  youth, 
Daniel  Boone,  was  an  ardent  lover  of  the 
wild  woods  and  their  inhabitants,  which  he 
knew  as  did  Audubon  and  Thoreau;  but  of 
regular  schooling  he  had  none.  When  he 
was  about  fourteen  years  of  age,  his  brother 
Samuel,  nearly  seven  years  his  senior,  mar- 
ried Sarah  Day,  an  intelligent  young  Quaker- 
10 


Ancestry  and  Training 

ess  who  had  more  education  than  was  cus- 
tomary in  this  neighborhood.  Sarah  taught 
Daniel  the  elements  of  "  the  three  B's."  To 
this  knowledge  he  added  somewhat  by  later 
self -teaching,  so  that  as  a  man  he  could  read 
understandingly,  do  rough  surveying,  keep 
notes  of  his  work,  and  write  a  sensible  al- 
though badly  spelled  letter — for  our  back- 
woods hero  was,  in  truth,  no  scholar,  al- 
though as  well  equipped  in  this  direction  as 
were  most  of  his  fellows. 

In  time  Squire  Boone,  a  man  of  enter- 
prise and  vigor,  added  blacksmithing  to  his 
list  of  occupations,  and  employed  his  young 
sons  in  this  lusty  work.  Thus  Daniel  served, 
for  a  time,  as  a  worker  in  iron  as  well  as  a 
hunter  and  herdsman;  although  it  was  no- 
ticed that  his  art  was  chiefly  developed  in 
the  line  of  making  and  mending  whatever 
pertained  to  traps  and  guns.  He  was  a  fear- 
less rider  of  his  father's  horses;  quick, 
though  bred  a  Quaker,  to  resent  what  he 
considered  wrong  treatment ;  *  true  to  his 

*  *  Indeed,  it  is  a  matter  of  record  that  other  members  also 
of  this  stout-hearted  Devonshire  family  were  "sometimes 
rather  too  belligerent  and  self-willed,"  and  had  "occasion- 

11 


Daniel  Boone 

young  friends ;  fond  of  long,  solitary  tramps 
through  the  dark  forest,  or  of  climbing  hill- 
tops for  bird's-eye  views  of  the  far-stretch- 
ing wilderness.  Effective  training  this,  for 
the  typical  pioneer  of  North  America. 

ally  to  be  dealt  with  by  the  meeting."  Daniel's  oldest  sister, 
Sarah,  married  a  man  who  was  not  a  Quaker,  and  conse- 
quently she  was  "disowned"  by  the  society.  His  oldest 
brother,  Israel,  also  married  a  worldling  and  was  similarly 
treated ;  and  their  father,  who  countenanced  Israel's  disloyal 
act  and  would  not  retract  his  error,  was  in  1748  likewise  ex- 
pelled. 


12 


CHAPTER  n 

THE  NIMROD  OF  THE  YADKIN 

THE  lofty  barrier  of  the  Alleghany  Moun- 
tains was  of  itself  sufficient  to  prevent  the 
pioneers  of  Pennsylvania  from  wandering 
far  westward.  Moreover,  the  Indians  be- 
yond these  hills  were  fiercer  than  those  with 
whom  the  Quakers  were  familiar;  their  oc- 
casional raids  to  the  eastward,  through  the 
mountain  passes,  won  for  them  a  reputation 
which  did  not  incline  the  border  farmers  to 
cultivate  their  further  acquaintance.  To  the 
southwest,  however,  there  were  few  obstacles 
to  the  spread  of  settlement.  For  several 
hundred  miles  the  Appalachians  run  in  par- 
allel ranges  from  northeast  to  southwest — 
from  Pennsylvania,  through  Virginia,  West 
Virginia,  the  Carolina?,  and  east  Tennessee, 
until  at  last  they  degenerate  into  scattered 
foot-hills  upon  the  Georgia  plain.  Through 
the  long,  deep  troughs  between  these  ranges 
— notably  in  the  famous  Valley  of  Virginia 
13 


Daniel  Boone 

between  the  Blue  Ridge  and  the  Alleghanies 
— Pennsylvanians  freely  wandered  into  the 
south  and  southwest,  whenever  possessed  by 
thirst  for  new  and  broader  lands.  Hostile 
Indians  sometimes  penetrated  these  great 
valleys  and  brought  misery  in  their  train; 
but  the  work  of  pioneering  along  this  path 
was  less  arduous  than  had  the  western  moun- 
tains been  scaled  at  a  time  when  the  colonists 
were  still  few  and  weak. 

Between  the  years  1732  and  1750,  numer- 
ous groups  of  Pennsylvanians — Germans 
and  Irish  largely,  with  many  Quakers  among 
them — had  been  wending  their  way  through 
the  mountain  troughs,  and  gradually  pushing 
forward  the  line  of  settlement,  until  now  it 
had  reached  the  upper  waters  of  the  Yadkin 
River,  in  the  northwest  corner  of  North 
Carolina.  Trials  abundant  fell  to  their  lot; 
but  the  soil  of  the  valleys  was  unusually  fer- 
tile, game  was  abundant,  the  climate  mild, 
the  country  beautiful,  and  life  in  general  upon 
the  new  frontier,  although  rough,  such  as  to 
appeal  to  the  borderers  as  a  thing  desirable. 
The  glowing  reports  of  each  new  group  at- 
tracted others.  Thus  was  the  wilderness 


The  Nimrod  of  the  Yadkin 

tamed  by  a  steady  stream  of  immigration 
from  the  older  lands  of  the  northern  colo- 
nies, while  not  a  few  penetrated  to  this  Ar- 
cadia through  the  passes  of  the  Blue  Bidge, 
from  eastern  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas. 

Squire  and  Sarah  Boone,  of  Oley,  now 
possessed  eleven  children,  some  of  whom 
were  married  and  settled  within  this  neigh- 
borhood which  consisted  so  largely  of  the 
Boones  and  their  relatives.  The  choicest 
lands  of  eastern  Pennsylvania  had  at  last 
been  located.  The  outlook  for  the  younger 
Boones,  who  soon  would  need  new  home- 
steads, did  not  appear  encouraging.  The 
fame  of  the  Yadkin  Valley,  five  hundred 
miles  southwestward,  had  reached  Oley,  and 
thither,  in  the  spring  of  1750,  the  majority 
of  the  Boones,  after  selling  their  lands  and 
surplus  stock,  bravely  took  up  the  line  of 
march.* 

With  the  women  and  children  stowed  in 
canvas-covered  wagons,  the  men  and  boys 
riding  their  horses  at  front  and  rear,  and 
driving  the  lagging  cattle,  the  picturesque 
little  caravan  slowly  found  its  way  to  the 

*  John  and  James  remained,  and  lived  and  died  in  Oley. 
15 


Daniel  Boone 

ford  at  Harper's  Ferry,  thence  up  the 
beautiful  valley  of  the  Shenandoah.  By 
night  they  pitched  their  camps  beside  some 
gurgling  spring,  gathered  the  animals  with- 
in the  circle  of  the  wagons,  and,  with  sen- 
tinel posted  against  possible  surprises  by 
Indians,  sat  around  the  blazing  fire  to  dis- 
cuss the  experiences  of  the  day — Daniel, 
as  the  hunter  for  the  party,  doubtless  hav- 
ing the  most  interesting  adventures  of 
them  all. 

Tradition  has  it  that  the  Boones  tarried 
by  the  way,  for  a  year  or  more,  on  Linnville 
Creek,  six  miles  north  of  Harrisonburg,  in 
Eockingham  County,  Va.  In  any  event, 
they  appear  to  have  resumed  their  journey 
by  the  autumn  of  1751.  Pushing  on  through 
the  Valley  of  Virginia — an  undulating, 
heavily  forested  table-land  from  three  to 
ten  miles  in  width — they  forded  the  upper 
waters  of  numerous  rivers,  some  of  which, 
according  to  the  tilt  of  the  land,  flow  east- 
ward and  southeastward  toward  the  Atlantic, 
and  others  westward  and  southwestward 
toward  the  Ohio.  This  is  one  of  the  fairest 
and  most  salubrious  regions  in  America ;  but 
16 


The  Nimrod  of  the  Yadkin 

they  did  not  again  stop  until  the  promised 
land  of  the  Yadkin  was  reached. 

The  country  was  before  them,  to  choose 
from  it  practically  what  they  would.  Be- 
tween the  Yadkin  and  the  Catawba  there  was 
a  broad  expanse  of  elevated  prairie,  yielding 
a  luxuriant  growth  of  grass,  while  the  bot- 
toms skirting  the  numerous  streams  were 
thick-grown  to  canebrake.  Here  were  abun- 
dant meadows  for  the  cattle,  fish  and  game 
and  wild  fruits  in  quantity  quite  exceeding 
young  Daniel's  previous  experience,  a  well- 
tempered  climate,  and  to  the  westward  a 
mountain-range  which  cast  long  afternoon 
shadows  over  the  plain  and  spoke  eloquently 
of  untamed  dominions  beyond.  Out  of  this 
land  of  plenty  Squire  Boone  chose  a  claim  at 
Buffalo  Lick,  where  Dutchman's  Creek  joins 
with  the  North  Fork  of  Yadkin. 

Daniel  was  now  a  lad  of  eighteen.  Nom- 
inally, he  helped  in  the  working  of  his  fa- 
ther's farm  and  in  the  family  smithy;  actu- 
ally, he  was  more  often  in  the  woods  with 
his  long  rifle.  At  first,  buffaloes  were  so 
plenty  that  a  party  of  three  or  four  men, 
with  dogs,  could  kill  from  ten  to  twenty  in 
3  17 


Daniel  Boone 

a  day ;  but  soon  the  sluggish  animals  receded 
before  the  advance  of  white  men,  hiding 
themselves  behind  the  mountain  wall.  An 
ordinary  hunter  could  slaughter  four  or  five 
deer  in  a  day ;  in  the  autumn,  he  might  from 
sunrise  to  sunset  shoot  enough  bears  to  pro- 
vide over  a  ton  of  bear-bacon  for  winter  use ; 
wild  turkeys  were  easy  prey ;  beavers,  otters, 
and  muskrats  abounded;  while  wolves,  pan- 
thers, and  wildcats  overran  the  country. 
Overcome  by  his  passion  for  the  chase,  our 
young  Nimrod  soon  began  to  spend  months 
at  a  time  in  the  woods,  especially  in  autumn 
and  winter.  He  found  also  more  profit  in 
this  occupation  than  at  either  the  forge  or 
the  plow;  for  at  their  nearest  market  town, 
Salisbury,  twenty  miles  away,  good  prices 
were  paid  for  skins,  which  were  regularly 
shipped  thence  to  the  towns  upon  the  At- 
lantic coast. 

The  Catawba  Indians  lived  about  sixty 
miles  distant,  and  the  Cherokees  still  farther. 
These  tribesmen  not  infrequently  visited  the 
thinly  scattered  settlement  on  the  Yadkin, 
seeking  trade  with  the  whites,  with  whom 
they  were  as  yet  on  good  terms.  They  were, 
18 


The  Nimrod  of  the  Yadkin 

however,  now  and  then  raided  by  Northern 
Indians,  particularly  the  Shawnese,  who,  col- 
lecting in  the  Valley  of  Virginia,  swept  down 
upon  them  with  fury;  sometimes  also  com- 
mitting depredations  upon  the  whites  who 
had  befriended  their  tribal  enemies,  and  who 
unfortunately  had  staked  their  farms  in  the 
old-time  war-path  of  the  marauders. 

In  the  year  1754,  the  entire  American 
border,  from  the  Yadkin  to  the  St.  Lawrence, 
became  deeply  concerned  in  the  Indian  ques- 
tion. France  and  England  had  long  been 
rivals  for  the  mastery  of  the  North  American 
continent  lying  west  of  the  Alleghanies. 
France  had  established  a  weak  chain  of  posts 
upon  the  upper  Great  Lakes,  and  down  the 
Mississippi  River  to  New  Orleans,  thus  con- 
necting Canada  with  Louisiana.  In  the  Val- 
ley of  the  Ohio,  however,  without  which  the 
French  could  not  long  hold  the  Western 
country,  there  was  a  protracted  rivalry  be- 
tween French  and  English  fur-traders,  each 
seeking  to  supplant  the  intruding  foreigner. 
This  led  to  the  outbreak  of  the  French  and 
Indian  War,  which  was  waged  vigorously  for 
five  years,  until  New  France  fell,  and  the 
19 


Daniel  Boone 

English  obtained  control  of  all  Canada  and 
that  portion  of  the  continent  lying  between 
the  Atlantic  Ocean  and  the  Mississippi. 

As  early  as  1748,  backwoodsmen  from 
Pennsylvania  had  made  a  small  settlement 
on  New  Biver,  just  west  of  the  Alleghanies — 
a  settlement  which  the  Boones  must  have  vis- 
ited, as  it  lay  upon  the  road  to  the  Yadkin; 
and  in  the  same  season  several  adventurous 
Virginians  hunted  and  made  land-claims  in 
Kentucky  and  Tennessee.  In  the  following 
year  there  was  formed  for  Western  fur  trad- 
ing and  colonizing  purposes,  the  Ohio  Com- 
pany, composed  of  wealthy  Virginians, 
among  them  two  brothers  of  George  Wash- 
ington. In  1753  French  soldiers  built  a  little 
log  fort  on  French  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the 
Alleghany;  and,  despite  Virginia's  protest, 
delivered  by  young  Major  Washington,  were 
planning  to  erect  another  at  the  forks  of  the 
Ohio,  where  Pittsburg  now  is.  Thither 
Washington  went,  in  the  succeeding  year, 
with  a  body  of  Virginia  militiamen,  to  con- 
struct an  English  stockade  at  the  forks ;  but 
the  French  defeated  him  in  the  Great  Mead- 
ows hard  by  and  themselves  erected  the  fort. 
20 


The  Nimrod  of  the  Yadkin 

It  is  thought  by  some  writers  that  young 
Boone,  then  twenty  years  of  age,  served  in 
the  Pennsylvania  militia  which  protected  the 
frontier  from  the  Indian  forays  which  suc- 
ceeded this  episode.  A  year  later  (1755)  the 
inexperienced  General  Braddock,  fresh  from 
England,  set  out,  with  Washington  upon  his 
staff,  to  teach  a  lesson  to  these  Frenchmen 
who  had  intruded  upon  land  claimed  by  the 
colony  of  Virginia. 

In  Braddock's  little  army  were  a  hundred 
North  Carolina  frontiersmen,  under  Captain 
Hugh  Waddell;  their  wagoner  and  black- 
smith was  Daniel  Boone.  His  was  one  of 
those  heavily  laden  baggage-wagons  which, 
history  tells  us,  greatly  impeded  the  progress 
of  the  English,  and  contributed  not  a  little 
to  the  terrible  disaster  which  overtook  the 
column  in  the  ravine  of  Turtle  Creek,  only 
a  few  miles  from  Pittsburg.  The  baggage- 
train  was  the  center  of  a  fierce  attack  from 
Indians,  led  by  French  officers,  and  many 
drivers  were  killed.  Young  Boone,  however, 
cut  the  traces  of  his  team,  and  mounting  a 
horse,  fortunately  escaped  by  flight.  Behind 
him  the  Indian  allies  of  the  French,  now  un- 
21 


Daniel  Boone 

checked,  laid  waste  the  panic-stricken  fron- 
tiers of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  But  the 
Yadkin,  which  Boone  soon  reached,  was  as 
yet  unscarred;  the  Northern  tribes  were 
busied  in  the  tide  of  intercolonial  warfare, 
and  the  Catawbas  and  Cherokees  thus  far 
remained  steadfast  to  their  old-time  prom- 
ises of  peace. 

Daniel  was  now  a  man,  full-grown.  He 
had  brought  home  with  him  not  only  some 
knowledge  of  what  war  meant,  but  his  imag- 
ination had  become  heated  by  a  new  passion 
— the  desire  to  explore  as  well  as  to  hunt. 
While  upon  the  campaign  he  had  fallen  in 
with  another  adventurous  soul,  John  Finley 
by  name,  who  fired  his  heart  with  strange 
tales  of  lands  and  game  to  the  west  of  the 
mountains.  Finley  was  a  Scotch-Irishman 
of  roving  tendencies,  who  had  emigrated  to 
Pennsylvania  and  joined  a  colony  of  his  com- 
patriots. As  early  as  1752  he  had  become  a 
fur-trader.  In  the  course  of  his  rambles 
many  perilous  adventures  befell  him  in  the 
Kentucky  wilds,  into  which  he  had  penetrat- 
ed as  far  as  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  where 
Louisville  is  now  built.  Hurrying,  with 
22 


The  Nimrod  of  the  Yadkin 

other  woodsmen,  to  Braddock's  support,  he 
enrolled  himself  under  George  Croghan,  a  fa- 
mous trader  to  the  Indians.  But  the  expert 
services  of  Croghan  and  his  men,  who,  well 
understanding  the  methods  of  savages  upon 
the  war-path,  offered  to  serve  as  scouts,  were 
coldly  rejected  by  Braddock,  who  soon  had 
occasion  to  regret  that  he  had  not  taken  their 
advice. 

Finley  found  in  the  Yadkin  wagoner  a 
kindred  spirit,  and  suggested  to  him  with 
eagerness  a  method  of  reaching  Kentucky  by 
following  the  trail  of  the  buffaloes  and  the 
Shawnese,  northwestward  through  Cumber- 
land Gap.  To  reach  this  hunter's  paradise, 
to  which  Finley  had  pointed  the  way,  was 
now  Boone's  daily  dream. 


CHAPTER  III 

LIFE   ON  THE   BORDER 

IT  was  many  years  before  Daniel  Boone 
realized  his  dream  of  reaching  Kentucky. 
Such  an  expedition  into  the  far-off  wilder- 
ness could  not  be  lightly  undertaken;  its 
hardships  and  dangers  were  innumerable; 
and  the  way  thither  from  the  forks  of  the 
Yadkin  was  not  as  easily  found,  through  this 
perplexing  tangle  of  valleys  and  mountains, 
as  Finley  had  supposed.  His  own  route  had 
doubtless  been  over  the  Ohio  Company's  pass 
from  the  upper  waters  of  the  Potomac  to  a 
tributary  of  the  Monongahela. 

Another  reason  caused  Daniel  long  to 
linger  near  his  home.  A  half-dozen  years 
before  the  Boones  reached  the  Yadkin  coun- 
try there  had  located  here  a  group  of  sev- 
eral related  families,  the  Bryans,  originally 
from  Ireland.  Pennsylvanians  at  first,  they 
had,  as  neighbors  crowded  them,  drifted 
southwestward  into  the  Valley  of  Virginia; 
24 


Life  on  the  Border 

and  finally,  keeping  well  ahead  of  other  set- 
tlers, established  themselves  at  the  forks  of 
the  Yadkin.  They  took  kindly  to  the  Boones, 
the  two  groups  intermarried,  and  both  were 
in  due  course  pioneers  of  Kentucky.  Re- 
becca,  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Bryan,  was 
fifteen  years  of  age  when  Daniel  first  read 
his  fate  in  her  shining  black  eyes.  In  the 
spring  following  his  return  from  Braddock's 
slaughter-pen  he  led  her  to  the  altar,  the 
ceremony  being  performed  by  old  Squire 
Boone — farmer,  weaver,  blacksmith,  and  now 
justice  of  the  peace  for  Rowan  County. 

An  historian  of  the  border,  who  had  stud- 
ied well  the  family  traditions,  thus  describes 
Daniel  and  Rebecca  at  the  time  when  they 
set  forth  together  upon  the  journey  of  life: 
"  Behold  that  young  man,  exhibiting  such  un- 
usual firmness  and  energy  of  character,  five 
feet  eight  inches  in  height,  with  broad  chest 
and  shoulders,  his  form  gradually  tapering 
downward  to  his  extremities;  his  hair  mod- 
erately black;  blue  eyes  arched  with  yellow- 
ish eyebrows;  his  lips  thin,  with  a  mouth 
peculiarly  wide;  a  countenance  fair  and 
ruddy,  with  a  nose  a  little  bordering  on  the 
25 


Daniel  Boone 

Roman  order.  Such  was  Daniel  Boone,  now 
past  twenty-one,  presenting  altogether  a  no- 
ble, manly,  prepossessing  appearance.  .  .  . 
Eebecca  Bryan,  whose  brow  had  now  been 
fanned  by  the  breezes  of  seventeen  summers, 
was,  like  Rebecca  of  old,  'very  fair  to  look 
upon,'  with  jet-black  hair  and  eyes,  complex- 
ion rather  dark,  and  something  over  the  com- 
mon size  of  her  sex;  her  whole  demeanor 
expressive  of  her  childlike  artlessness,  pleas- 
ing in  her  address,  and  unaffectedly  kind  in 
all  her  deportment.  Never  was  there  a  more 
gentle,  affectionate,  forbearing  creature  than 
this  same  fair  youthful  bride  of  the  Yadkin." 
In  the  annals  of  the  frontier,  as  elsewhere, 
all  brides  are  fair  and  grooms  are  manly; 
but,  allowing  for  the  natural  enthusiasm  of 
hero-worshipers,  we  may,  from  the  abun- 
dance of  testimony  to  that  effect,  at  least  con- 
clude that  Daniel  and  Rebecca  Boone  were  a 
well-favored  couple,  fit  to  rear  a  family  of 
sturdy  borderers. 

It  was  neither  the  day  nor  the  place  for 

expensive  trousseaus  and  wedding  journeys. 

After  a  hilarious  wedding-feast,  Boone  and 

his  wife,  with  scanty  equipment,  immediately 

26 


Life  on  the  Border 

commenced  their  hard  task  of  winning  a  live- 
lihood from  the  soil  and  the  forest.  At  first 
occupying  a  rude  log  cabin  in  his  father's 
yard,  they  soon  afterward  acquired  some 
level  land  of  their  own,  lying  upon  Sugar 
Tree,  a  tributary  of  Dutchman's  Creek,  in 
the  Bryan  settlement,  a  few  miles  north  of 
Squire  Boone's.  All  of  this  neighborhood 
lies  within  what  is  now  Davie  County,  still 
one  of  the  richest  farming  districts  in  North 
Carolina.  Save  when  driven  out  by  Indian 
alarms  and  forays,  they  here  lived  quietly 
for  many  years. 

The  pioneers  in  the  then  back  country, 
along  the  eastern  foot-hills  of  the  Allegha- 
nies,  led  a  rough,  primitive  life,  such  as  is 
hardly  possible  to-day,  when  there  is  no  long- 
er any  frontier  within  the  United  States,  and 
but  few  districts  are  so  isolated  as  to  be  more 
than  two  or  three  days'  journey  from  a  rail- 
way. Most  of  them,  however,  had  been  bred, 
as  were  the  Boones  and  the  Bryans,  to  the 
•  rude  experiences  of  the  border.  With  slight 
knowledge  of  books,  they  were  accustomed 
to  living  in  the  simplest  manner,  and  from 
childhood  were  inured  to  the  hardships  and 
27 


Daniel  Boone 

privations  incident  to  great  distance  from 
the  centers  of  settlement;  they  possessed  the 
virtues  of  hospitality  and  neighborliness,  and 
were  hardy,  rugged,  honest-hearted  folk,  ad- 
mirably suited  to  their  self-appointed  task 
of  forcing  back  the  walls  of  savagery,  in 
order  that  civilization  might  cover  the  land. 
"We  may  well  honor  them  for  the  great  serv- 
ice that  they  rendered  to  mankind. 

The  dress  of  a  backwoodsman  like  Daniel 
Boone  was  a  combination  of  Indian  and  civ- 
ilized attire.  A  long  hunting- shirt,  of  coarse 
cloth  or  of  dressed  deerskins,  sometimes  with 
an  ornamental  collar,  was  his  principal  gar- 
ment; drawers  and  leggings  of  like  material 
were  worn;  the  feet  were  encased  in  moc- 
casins of  deerskin — soft  and  pliant,  but  cold 
in  winter,  even  when  stuffed  with  deer's  hair 
or  dry  leaves,  and  so  spongy  as  to  be  no 
protection  against  wet  feet,  which  made 
every  hunter  an  early  victim  to  rheumatism. 
Hanging  from  the  belt,  which  girt  the  hunt- 
ing-shirt, were  the  powder-horn,  bullet- 
pouch,  scalping-knife,  and  tomahawk;  while 
the  breast  of  the  shirt  served  as  a  generous 
pocket  for  food  when  the  hunter  or  warrior 
28 


Life  on  the  Border 

was  upon  the  trail.  For  head-covering,  the 
favorite  was  a  soft  cap  of  coonskin,  with  the 
bushy  tail  dangling  behind;  but  Boone  him- 
self despised  this  gear,  and  always  wore  a 
hat.  The  women  wore  huge  sunbonnets  and 
loose  gowns  of  home-made  cloth ;  they  gener- 
ally went  barefoot  in  summer,  but  wore  moc- 
casins in  winter. 

Daniel  Boone's  cabin  was  a  simple  box  of 
logs,  reared  in  "  cob-house  "  style,  the  chinks 
stuffed  with  moss  and  clay,  with  a  door  and 
perhaps  but  a  single  window.  Probably  there 
was  but  one  room  below,  with  a  low  attic 
under  the  rafters,  reached  by  a  ladder.  A 
great  outside  chimney,  built  either  of  rough 
stones  or  of  small  logs,  coated  on  the  inside 
with  clay  mortar  and  carefully  chinked  with 
the  same,  was  built  against  one  end  of  this 
rude  house.  In  the  fireplace,  large  enough 
for  logs  five  or  six  feet  in  length,  there  was 
a  crane  from  which  was  hung  the  iron  pot 
in  which  the  young  wife  cooked  simple  meals 
of  corn-mush,  pumpkins,  squashes,  beans, 
potatoes,  and  pork,  or  wild  meat  of  many 
kinds,  fresh  and  dried;  in  a  bake-kettle,  laid 
upon  the  live  coals,  she  made  the  bread  and 
29 


Daniel  Boone 

corn  pone,  or  fried  her  steaks,  which  added 
variety  to  the  fare. 

Dishes  and  other  utensils  were  few — some 
pewter  plates,  forks,  and  spoons;  wooden 
bowls  and  trenchers,  with  gourds  and  hard- 
shelled  squashes  for  drinking-mugs.  For 
knife,  Boone  doubtless  used  his  belt-weapon, 
and  scorned  the  crock  plates,  now  slowly 
creeping  into  the  valley,  as  calculated  to  dull 
its  edge.  Over  the  fireplace  deer's  horns 
served  as  rests  for  his  gun.  Into  the  log 
wall  were  driven  great  wooden  pegs,  hanging 
from  which  flitches  of  dried  and  smoked 
bacon,  venison,  and  bear's-meat  mingled 
freely  with  the  family's  scanty  wardrobe. 

With  her  cooking  and  rude  mending,  her 
moccasin-making,  her  distaff  and  loom  for 
making  cloths,  her  occasional  plying  of  the 
hoe  in  the  small  vegetable  patch,  and  her 
ever-present  care  of  the  children  and  dairy, 
Rebecca  Boone  was  abundantly  occupied. 

In  these  early  years  of  married  life  Dan- 
iel proved  a  good  husbandman,  planting  and 
garnering  his  crops  with  regularity,  and  pas- 
turing a  few  scrawny  cattle  and  swine  upon 
the  wild  lands  adjoining  his  farm.  Doubt- 
30 


BOONE'S  POWDER-HORX   AXD  BAKE-KETTLE. 

In  possession  of  Wisconsin  State  Historical  Society.     The  horn  once 
belonged  to  Daniel's  brother  Israel,  and  bears  the  initials  "I  B". 


Life  on  the  Border 

less  at  times  he  did  smithy-work  for  the 
neighbors  and  took  a  hand  at  the  loom,  as 
had  his  father  and  grandfather  before  him. 
Sometimes  he  was  engaged  with  his  wagon 
in  the  caravans  which  each  autumn  found 
their  way  from  the  Yadkin  and  the  other 
mountain  valleys  down  to  the  Atlantic 
cities,  carrying  furs  to  market;  it  was  as 
yet  too  early  in  the  history  of  the  back 
country  for  the  cattle-raisers  to  send  their 
animals  to  the  coast.  In  the  Valley  of  Vir- 
ginia, hemmed  in  upon  the  east  by  the  Blue 
Ridge,  packhorses  were  alone  used  in  this 
traffic,  for  the  mountain  paths  were  rough 
and  narrow;  but  wagons  could  be  utilized 
in  the  more  southern  districts.  The  cara- 
vans brought  back  to  the  pioneers  salt,  iron, 
cloths,  and  a  few  other  manufactured  goods. 
This  annual  expedition  over,  Boone  was  free 
to  go  upon  long  hunts  in  the  forest,  where 
he  cured  great  stores  of  meat  for  his  family 
and  prepared  the  furs  for  market. 

The  backwoodsmen  of  the  Yadkin  had 
few  machines  to  assist  them  in  their  labor, 
and  these  were  of  the  simplest  sort.    Prac- 
tically, every  settler  was  his  own  mechanic — 
31 


Daniel  Boone 

although  some  men  became,  in  certain  lines, 
more  expert  than  their  neighbors,  and  to 
them  fell  such  work  for  the  entire  settlement. 
Grinding  corn  into  meal,  or  cracking  it  into 
hominy,  were,  as  usual  with  primitive  peo- 
ples, tasks  involving  the  most  machinery. 
Rude  mortars  and  pestles,  some  of  the  latter 
ingeniously  worked  by  means  of  springy 
"  sweeps,"  were  commonly  seen ;  a  device 
something  like  a  nutmeg-grater  was  often 
used  when  the  corn  was  soft;  two  circular 
millstones,  worked  by  hand,  were  effective, 
and  there  were  some  operated  by  water- 
power. 

Medicine  was  at  a  crude  stage,  many  of 
the  so-called  cures  being  as  old  as  Egypt, 
while  others  were  borrowed  from  the  In- 
dians. The  borderers  firmly  believed  in  the 
existence  of  witches ;  bad  dreams,  eclipses  of 
the  sun,  the  howling  of  dogs,  and  the  croak- 
ing of  ravens,  were  sure  to  bring  disasters 
in  their  train. 

Their  sports  laid  stress  on  physical  ac- 
complishments —  great  strength,  dexterity 
with  the  rifle,  hunting,  imitating  the  calls  of 
wild  birds  and  beasts,  throwing  the  toma- 
32 


Life  on  the  Border 

hawk,  running,  jumping,  wrestling,  dancing, 
and  horse-racing;  they  were  also  fond,  as 
they  gathered  around  one  another's  great 
fireplaces  in  the  long  winter  evenings,  of 
story-telling  and  dramatic  recitation.  Some 
of  the  wealthier  members  of  this  primitive 
society  owned  negro  slaves,  to  whom,  some- 
times, they  were  cruel,  freely  using  the  whip 
upon  both  women  and  men.  Indeed,  in  their 
own  frequent  quarrels  fierce  brutality  was 
sometimes  used,  adversaries  in  a  fist-fight 
being  occasionally  maimed  or  otherwise  dis- 
figured for  life. 

There  was,  for  a  long  time,  "  neither  law 
nor  gospel "  upon  this  far-away  frontier. 
Justices  of  the  peace  had  small  authority. 
Preachers  were  at  first  unknown.  Many  of 
the  borderers  were  Presbyterians,  and  others 
Quakers;  but  under  such  social  conditions 
these  were  little  else  than  names.  Never- 
theless, there  was  a  sound  public  sentiment 
among  these  rude,  isolated  people,  who  were 
a  law  unto  themselves.  They  respected  and 
honored  candor,  honesty,  hospitality,  regular 
habits,  and  good  behavior  generally;  and 
very  severe  were  the  punishments  with  which 
4  33 


Daniel  Boone 

they  visited  offenders.  If  a  man  acted  as 
a  coward  in  time  of  war,  shirked  his  full 
measure  of  duty  to  the  public,  failed  to  care 
for  his  family,  was  careless  about  his  debts, 
stole  from  his  neighbors,  was  needlessly  pro- 
fane, or  failed  to  treat  women  respectfully, 
he  was  either  shunned  by  his  fellows  or 
forced  to  leave  the  settlement. 

Amid  such  surroundings  and  of  such  stuff 
was  Daniel  Boone  in  the  days  when  he  was 
living  uneventfully  in  the  valley  of  the  Yad- 
kin  as  farmer,  blacksmith,  wagoner,  and 
hunter,  before  the  Indian  wars  and  his  ex- 
plorations west  of  the  long-shadowed  moun- 
tain-range made  of  him  a  popular  hero. 


CHAPTER  IV 

RED   MAN   AGAINST   WHITE   MAN 

THE  borderers  in  the  Valley  of  Virginia 
and  on  the  western  highlands  of  the  Caro- 
linas  were  largely  engaged  in  raising  horses, 
cattle,  sheep,  and  hogs,  which  grazed  at  will 
upon  the  broad  slopes  of  the  eastern  foot- 
hills of  the  Alleghanies,  most  of  them  being 
in  as  wild  a  state  as  the  great  roving  herds 
now  to  be  seen  upon  the  semi-arid  plains 
of  the  far  West.  Indeed,  there  are  some 
strong  points  of  resemblance  between  the  life 
of  the  frontier  herdsman  of  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century  and  that  of  the  "  cow " 
ranchers  of  our  own  day,  although  the  most 
primitive  conditions  now  existing  would  have 
seemed  princely  to  Daniel  Boone.  The  an- 
nual round-up,  the  branding  of  young  stock, 
the  sometimes  deadly  disputes  between 
herdsmen,  and  the  autumnal  drive  to  mar- 
ket, are  features  in  common. 

.With  the  settlement  of  the  valleys  and  the 
35 


Daniel  Boone 

steady  increase  in  the  herds,  it  was  neces- 
sary each  season  to  find  new  pastures.  Thus 
the  herdsmen  pushed  farther  and  farther 
into  the  wilderness  to  the  south  and  west, 
and  actually  crossed  the  mountains  at  many 
points.  Even  before  the  arrival  of  the 
Boones,  the  Bryans  had  frequently,  toward 
the  end  of  summer,  as  the  lower  pastures 
thinned,  driven  their  stock  to  a  distance  of 
sixty  and  seventy  miles  to  green  valleys  lying 
between  the  western  buttresses  of  the  moun- 
tain wall. 

This  gradual  pressure  upon  the  hunting- 
grounds  of  the  Cherokees  and  the  Catawbas 
was  not  unnoticed  by  the  tribesmen.  There 
had  long  been  heard  deep  mutterings,  es- 
pecially by  the  former,  who  were  well-dis- 
posed toward  the  ever-meddling  French ;  but 
until  the  year  of  Daniel  Boone's  wedding 
the  southern  frontiers  had  not  known  an  In- 
dian uprising. 

The  year  previous  (1755)  the  Cherokees 
had  given  reluctant  permission  to  the  whites 
to  build  two  posts  in  their  country  for  the 
protection  of  the  frontiers  against  the 
French,  who,  with  their  Indian  allies,  were 
36 


Red  Man  Against  White  Man 

continually  active  against  the  New  York, 
Pennsylvania,  and  Virginia  frontiers,  and 
were  known  to  be  attempting  the  corrup- 
tion of  the  Southern  Indians.  Fort  Prince 
George  was  accordingly  erected  upon  the  Sa- 
vannah Eiver,  and  Fort  Loudon  upon  the 
Tennessee.  In  1756  Fort  Dobbs  was  con- 
structed a  short  distance  south  of  the  South 
Fork  of  the  Yadkin.  These  three  centers  of 
refuge  were  upon  the  extreme  southwestern 
borders  of  the  English  colonies. 

These  "  forts  "  of  the  American  border 
would  have  proved  slight  defenses  in  the 
presence  of  an  enemy  armed  with  even  the 
lightest  artillery,  but  were  generally  suffi- 
cient to  withstand  a  foe  possessing  only  mus- 
kets and  rifles.  Fort  Dobbs  was  an  oblong 
space  forty-three  by  fifty-three  feet,  girt  by 
walls  about  twelve  feet  high,  consisting  of 
double  rows  of  logs  standing  on  end;  earth 
dug  from  the  ditch  which  surrounded  the  fort 
was  piled  against  the  feet  of  these  palisades, 
inside  and  out,  to  steady  them;  they  were 
fastened  to  one  another  by  wooden  pins,  and 
their  tops  were  sharpened  so  as  to  impede 
those  who  might  seek  to  climb  over.  At  the 
37 


Daniel  Boone 

angles  of  the  stockade  were  blockhouses 
three  stories  high,  each  story  projecting 
about  eighteen  inches  beyond  the  one  be- 
neath; there  were  openings  in  the  floors  of 
the  two  upper  stories  to  enable  the  defenders 
to  fire  down  upon  an  enemy  which  sought 
to  enter  below.  Along  the  inside  of  one,  or 
perhaps  two,  of  the  four  walls  of  the  stockade 
was  a  range  of  cabins — or  rather,  one  long 
cabin  with  log  partitions — with  the  slope  of 
the  roof  turned  inward  to  the  square;  this 
furnished  a  platform  for  the  garrison,  who, 
protected  by  the  rampart  of  pointed  logs, 
could  fire  into  the  attacking  party.  Other 
platforms  were  bracketed  against  the  walls 
not  backed  by  cabins.  There  was  a  large 
double  gate  made  of  thick  slabs  and  so  situ- 
ated as  to  be  guarded  by  the  blockhouses  on 
either  corner;  this  was  the  main  entrance, 
but  another  and  smaller  gate  furnished  a 
rear  exit  to  and  entrance  from  the  spring 
hard  by.  Blockhouses,  cabins,  and  walls 
were  all  amply  provided  with  port-holes; 
Fort  Dobbs  had  capacity  for  a  hundred  men- 
at-arms  to  fire  at  one  volley.  Destructive 
fusillades  could  be  maintained  from  within, 
38 


Red  Man  Against  White  Man 

and  everywhere  the  walls  were  bullet-proof; 
but  good  marksmen  in  the  attacking  force 
could  work  great  havoc  by  firing  through  the 
port-holes,  and  thus  quietly  picking  off  those 
who  chanced  to  be  in  range.  Fortunately  for 
the  whites  few  Indians  became  so  expert  as 
this. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  breathless  messengers 
bringing  news  of  the  approach  of  hostile  In- 
dians, the  men,  women,  and  children  of  a 
wide  district  would  flock  into  such  a  fort  as 
this.  "  I  well  remember,"  says  Dr.  Dodd- 
ridge  in  his  Notes  on  Virginia,  "  that  when 
a  little  boy  the  family  were  sometimes  waked 
up  in  the  dead  of  night  by  an  express  with 
a  report  that  the  Indians  were  at  hand.  The 
express  came  softly  to  the  door  or  back  win- 
dow, and  by  gentle  tapping  waked  the  fam- 
ily ;  this  was  easily  done,  as  an  habitual  fear 
made  us  ever  watchful  and  sensible  to  the 
slightest  alarm.  The  whole  family  were  in- 
stantly in  motion:  my  father  seized  his  gun 
and  other  implements  of  war ;  my  stepmoth- 
er waked  up  and  dressed  the  children  as  well 
as  she  could ;  and  being  myself  the  oldest  of 
the  children,  I  had  to  take  my  share  of  the 
39 


Daniel  Boone 

burthens  to  be  carried  to  the  fort.  There 
was  no  possibility  of  getting  a  horse  in  the 
night  to  aid  us  in  removing  to  the  fort;  be- 
sides the  little  children,  we  caught  up  what 
articles  of  clothing  and  provisions  we  could 
get  hold  of  in  the  dark,  for  we  durst  not 
light  a  candle  or  even  stir  the  fire.  All  this 
was  done  with  the  utmost  despatch  and  the 
silence  of  death ;  the  greatest  care  was  taken 
not  to  awaken  the  youngest  child ;  to  the  rest 
it  was  enough  to  say  Indian,  and  not  a 
whimper  was  heard  afterwards.  Thus  it 
often  happened  that  the  whole  number  of 
families  belonging  to  a  fort,  who  were  in  the 
evening  at  their  homes,  were  all  in  their  little 
fortress  before  the  dawn  of  the  next  morn- 
ing. In  the  course  of  the  succeeding  day 
their  household  furniture  was  brought  in  by 
parties  of  the  men  under  arms." 

The  large  public  frontier  forts,  such  as 
we  have  described,  did  not  house  all  of  the 
backwoodsmen.  There  were  some  who, 
either  because  of  great  distance  or  other 
reasons,  erected  their  own  private  defenses; 
or,  in  many  cases,  several  isolated  families 
united  in  such  a  structure.  Often  these  were 
40 


Red  Man  Against  White  Man 

but  single  blockhouses,  with  a  few  outlying 
cabins.  It  was  difficult  to  induce  some  of 
the  more  venturesome  folk  to  enter  the  forts 
unless  Indians  were  actually  in  the  settle- 
ment; they  took  great  risks  in  order  to  care 
for  their  crops  and  stock  until  the  last  mo- 
ment; and,  soon  tiring  of  the  monotony  of 
life  within  the  fort  cabins,  would  often  leave 
the  refuge  before  the  danger  was  really  over. 
"  Such  families,"  reports  Doddridge,  "  gave 
no  small  amount  of  trouble  by  creating  fre- 
quent necessities  of  sending  runners  to  warn 
them  of  their  danger,  and  sometimes  parties 
of  our  men  to  protect  them  during  their  re- 
moval." 

For  the  first  few  years  Fort  Dobbs  was 
but  little  used.  There  was,  however,  much 
uneasiness.  The  year  1757  had,  all  along  the 
line,  been  disastrous  to  English  arms  in  the 
North,  and  the  Cherokees  became  increas- 
ingly insolent.  The  next  year  they  com- 
mitted several  deadly  assaults  in  the  Valley 
of  Virginia,  but  themselves  suffered  greatly 
in  return.  The  French,  at  last  driven  from 
Fort  Duquesne  (Pittsburg),  had  retreated 
down  the  Ohio  River  to  Fort  Massac,  in 
41 


Daniel  Boone 

southern  Illinois,  and  sent  their  emissaries 
far  and  near  to  stir  up  the  Indians  west  of 
the  mountains.  The  following  April  (1759) 
the  Yadkin  and  Catawba  Valleys  were  raided 
by  the  Cherokees,  with  the  usual  results  of 
ruined  crops,  burned  farm-buildings,  and 
murdered  households;  not  a  few  of  the  bor- 
derers being  carried  off  as  prisoners  into  the 
Indian  country,  there  generally  to  suffer 
either  slavery  or  slow  death  from  the  most 
horrid  forms  of  torture.  The  Catawbas, 
meanwhile,  remained  faithful  to  their  white 
friends. 

Until  this  outbreak  the  Carolinas  had 
prospered  greatly.  Hundreds  of  settlers 
had  poured  in  from  the  more  exposed  north- 
ern valleys,  and  the  western  uplands  were 
now  rapidly  being  dotted  over  with  clearings 
and  log  cabins.  The  Indian  forays  at  once 
created  a  general  panic  throughout  this  re- 
gion, heretofore  considered  safe.  Most  of 
the  Yadkin  families,  together  with  English 
fur-traders  who  hurried  in  from  the  woods, 
huddled  within  the  walls  either  of  Fort 
Dobbs  or  of  small  neighborhood  forts  hastily 
constructed ;  but  many  others,  in  their  fright, 
42 


Red  Man  Against  White  Man 

fled  with  all  their  possessions  to  settlements 
on  or  near  the  Atlantic  coast. 

Among  the  latter  were  old  Squire  Boone 
and  his  wife,  Daniel  and  Kebecca,  with  their 
two  sons,*  and  several  other  families  of 
Bryans  and  Boones,  although  some  of  both 
names  preferred  to  remain  at  Fort  Dobbs. 
The  fugitives  scattered  to  various  parts  of 
.Virginia  and  Maryland — Squire  going  to 
Georgetown,  now  in  the  District  of  Columbia, 
where  he  lived  for  three  years  and  then  re- 
turned to  the  Yadkin;  while  Daniel's  fam- 
ily went  in  their  two-horse  wagon  to  Cul- 
peper  County,  in  eastern  Virginia.  The 
settlers  there  employed  him  with  his  wagon 
in  hauling  tobacco  to  Fredericksburg,  the 
nearest  market-town. 

The  April  forays  created  almost  as  much 
consternation  at  Charleston  as  on  the  Yad- 
kin. Governor  Lyttleton,  of  South  Carolina, 
sent  out  fifteen  hundred  men  to  overcome  the 

*  The  children  of  Daniel  Boone  were  as  follows:  James 
(born  in  1757),  Israel  (1759),  Susannah  (1760),  Jemima  (1762), 
Lavinia  (1766),  Rebecca  (1768),  Daniel  Morgan  (1769),  John  B. 
(1773),  and  Nathan  (1780).  The  four  daughters  all  married  and 
died  in  Kentucky.  The  two  eldest  sons  were  killed  by  Indians, 
the  three  younger  emigrated  to  Missouri. 

43 


Daniel  Boone 

Cherokees,  who  now  pretended  to  be  grieved 
at  the  acts  of  their  young  hot-bloods  and 
patched  up  a  peace.  Fur-traders,  eager  to 
renew  their  profitable  barter,  hastened  back 
into  the  western  forests.  But  very  soon  their 
confidence  was  shattered,  for  the  Indians 
again  dug  up  the  tomahawk.  Their  war-par- 
ties infested  every  road  and  trail;  most  of 
the  traders,  with  trains  of  packhorses  to 
carry  their  goods  and  furs,  fell  an  easy  prey 
to  their  forest  customers ;  and  Forts  London, 
Dobbs,  and  Prince  George  were  besieged. 
By  January  (1760)  the  entire  southwest 
border  was  once  more  a  scene  of  carnage. 

Captain  Waddell,  our  old  friend  of  Brad- 
dock's  campaign,  commanded  at  Fort  Dobbs, 
with  several  Bryans  and  Boones  in  his  little 
garrison.  Here  the  Cherokees  were  repulsed 
with  great  loss.  At  Fort  Prince  George  the 
country  round  about  was  sadly  harried  by 
the  enemy,  who  finally  withdrew.  Fort 
London,  however,  had  one  of  the  saddest  ex- 
periences in  the  thrilling  annals  of  the 
frontier. 

In  April  General  Amherst,  of  the  British 
Army,  sent  Colonel  Montgomery  against  the 


Red  Man  Against  White  Man 

iCherokees  with  a  formidable  column  com- 
posed of  twelve  hundred  regular  troops — 
among  them  six  hundred  kilted  Highlanders 
• — to  whom  were  attached  seven  hundred 
Carolina  backwoods  rangers  under  Waddell, 
with  some  Catawba  allies.  They  laid  waste 
with  fire  and  sword  all  the  Cherokee  villages 
on  the  Keowee  and  Tennessee  Rivers,  includ- 
ing the  growing  crops  and  magazines  of  corn. 
The  soldiers  killed  seventy  Indians,  captured 
forty  prisoners,  and  reduced  the  greater  part 
of  the  tribe  to  the  verge  of  starvation. 

The  Cherokees  were  good  fighters,  and 
soon  had  their  revenge.  On  the  morning  of 
the  twenty-seventh  of  June  the  army  was 
proceeding  along  a  rough  road  on  the  south- 
ern bank  of  the  Little  Tennessee,  where  on 
one  side  is  a  sheer  descent  to  the  stream,  on 
the  other  a  lofty  cliff.  Here  it  was  ambus- 
caded by  over  six  hundred  savage  warriors 
under  the  noted  chief  Silouee.  In  the  course 
of  an  engagement  lasting  several  hours  the 
whites  lost  twenty  killed  and  sixty  wounded, 
and  the  Cherokee  casualties  were  perhaps 
greater.  Montgomery  desperately  beat  his 
way  to  a  level  tract,  but  in  the  night  hastily 
45 


Daniel  Boone 

withdrew,  and  did  not  stop  until  he  reached 
Charleston.  Despite  the  entreaties  of  the 
Assembly,  he  at  once  retired  to  the  North 
with  his  little  army,  and  left  the  frontiers 
of  Carolina  open  to  the  assaults  of  the  merci- 
less foe. 

The  siege  of  Fort  Loudon  was  now  pushed 
by  the  Cherokees  with  vigor.  It  had  already 
withstood  several  desperate  and  protracted 
assaults.  But  the  garrison  contrived  to  exist 
for  several  months,  almost  wholly  upon  the 
active  sympathy  of  several  Indian  women 
who  were  married  to  frontiersmen  shut  up 
within  the  walls.  The  dusky  wives  fre- 
quently contrived  to  smuggle  food  into  the 
fort  despite  the  protests  of  the  Indian  lead- 
ers. Women,  however,  despite  popular  no- 
tions to  the  contrary,  have  a  powerful  influ- 
ence in  Indian  camps ;  and  they  but  laughed 
the  chiefs  to  scorn,  saying  that  they  would 
suffer  death  rather  than  refuse  assistance  to 
their  white  husbands. 

This  relief,  however,  furnished  but  a  pre- 
carious existence.  Receiving  no  help  from 
the  settlements,  which  were  cut  off  from  com- 
munication with  them,  and  weak  from  irregu- 
46 


Red  Man  Against  White  Man 

lar  food,  the  garrison  finally  surrendered  on 
promise  of  a  safe-conduct  to  their  fellows  in 
the  East.  Early  in  the  morning  of  August 
ninth  they  marched  out — men,  women,  and 
children  to  the  number  of  several  hundred — 
leaving  behind  them  their  cannon,  ammuni- 
tion, and  spare  arms.  The  next  day,  upon 
their  sorry  march,  they  were  set  upon  by  a 
bloodthirsty  mob  of  seven  hundred  Chero- 
kees.  Many  were  killed  outright,  others  sur- 
rendered merely  to  meet  torture  and  death. 
Finally,  after  several  hours  of  horror,  a 
friendly  chief  succeeded,  by  browbeating  his 
people  and  by  subterfuge,  in  saving  the  lives 
of  about  two  hundred  persons,  who  in  due 
time  and  after  great  suffering,  reached  the 
relief  party  which  had  for  several  months 
been  making  its  way  thither  from  Virginia; 
but  it  had  been  delayed  by  storms  and  high 
water  in  the  mountain  streams,  and  was  now 
seeking  needed  rest  in  a  camp  at  the  head 
of  the  Holston.  It  is  recorded  that  during 
the  heartrending  melee  several  other  Indians 
risked  their  lives  for  white  friends,  perform- 
ing deeds  of  heroism  which  deserve  to  be 
remembered. 

47 


Daniel  Boone 

Although  New  France  was  now  tottering 
to  its  fall,  the  French  officers  at  Fort  Massac 
still  continued,  with  their  limited  resources, 
to  keep  alive  the  Cherokee  war  spirit. 
French  outrages  occurred  throughout  the  au- 
tumn and  early  winter  of  1760.  At  nearly 
all  of  the  forts,  large  and  small,  skirmishes 
took  place,  some  of  these  giving  occasion  for 
exhibitions  of  rare  enterprise  and  courage 
on  the  part  of  the  garrisons,  women  and  men 
alike. 

During  the  winter,  the  governors  of  Vir- 
ginia, North  Carolina,  and  South  Carolina 
agreed  upon  a  joint  campaign  against  the 
hostiles.  The  southern  column,  comprising 
twenty-six  hundred  men,  chiefly  Highlanders, 
was  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  James  Grant. 
Starting  early  in  June,  they  carried  with 
them  seven  hundred  packhorses,  four  hun- 
dred head  of  cattle,  and  a  large  train  of  hag- 
gage  and  supplies.  Their  route  from  Fort 
Prince  George  to  the  lower  and  middle 
Cherokee  towns  on  the  Little  Tennessee  lay 
through  a  rough,  mountainous  country;  high 
water,  storms,  intensely  warm  weather,  the 
lack  of  tents,  and  bruises  from  rocks  and 
48 


Red  Man  Against  White  Man 

briers,  caused  the  troops  to  suffer  greatly. 
After  heavy  losses  from  ambuscades  in  nar- 
row defiles,  they  finally  reached  their  des- 
tination, and  spent  a  month  in  burning  and 
ravaging  fifteen  or  more  large  villages  and 
fourteen  hundred  acres  of  growing  corn,  and 
in  driving  five  thousand  men,  women,  and 
children  into  the  hills  to  starve.  Wrote  one 
of  the  pious  participators  in  this  terrible 
work  of  devastation :  "  Heaven  has  blest  us 
with  the  greatest  success;  we  have  finished 
our  business  as  completely  as  the  most  san- 
guine of  us  could  have  wished."  The  Chero- 
kees,  completely  crushed,  humbly  begged  for 
peace,  which  was  granted  upon  liberal  terms 
and  proved  to  be  permanent. 

The  northern  column  was  composed  of 
backwoodsmen  from  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina,  under  Colonel  William  Byrd,  an 
experienced  campaigner.  Byrd  was  much 
hampered  for  both  men  and  supplies,  and 
accomplished  little.  He  appears  to  have 
largely  spent  his  time  in  making  roads  and 
building  blockhouses — laborious  methods  ill- 
fitted  for  Indian  warfare,  and  loudly  criti- 
cized by  Waddell,  who  joined  him  with  a 
5  49 


Daniel  Boone 

regiment  of  five  hundred  North  Carolinians, 
among  whom  was  Daniel  Boone,  now  re- 
turned to  the  Yadkin.  Waddell  and  Boone 
had  experienced  the  folly  of  this  sort  of 
thing  in  Braddock's  ill-fated  campaign.  As 
a  result  of  dissatisfaction,  Byrd  resigned,  and 
Colonel  Stephen  succeeded  him.  The  force, 
now  composed  of  about  twelve  hundred  men, 
pushed  on  to  the  Long  Island  of  Holston 
Eiver,  where  they  were  met  by  four  hundred 
iCherokees,  who,  brought  to  their  knees  by 
Grant,  likewise  sought  peace  from  Stephen. 
Articles  were  accordingly  signed  on  the  nine- 
teenth of  November.  The  North  Carolina 
men  returned  home ;  but  a  portion  of  the  Vir- 
ginia regiment  remained  as  a  winter  gar- 
rison for  Fort  Robinson,  as  the  new  fort  at 
Long  Island  was  called. 

Now  that  the  Yadkin  region  has,  after  its 
sad  experience,  been  blessed  with  a  promise 
of  peace,  we  may  well  pause,  briefly  to  con- 
sider the  ethics  of  border  warfare.  This  life- 
history  will,  to  its  close,  have  much  to  do 
with  Indian  forays  and  white  reprisals,  and 
it  is  well  that  we  should  consider  them  dis- 
passionately. 

50 


Red  Man  Against  White  Man 

The  Cherokees  were  conducting  a  warfare 
in  defense  of  their  villages,  fields,  and  hunt- 
ing-grounds, which  were  being  rapidly  de- 
stroyed by  the  inrush  of  white  settlers,  who 
seemed  to  think  that  the  Indians  had  no 
rights  worth  consideration.  Encouraged  by 
the  French,  who  deemed  the  English  intrud- 
ers on  lands  which  they  had  first  explored,  the 
American  aborigines  seriously  thought  that 
they  might  stem  the  tide  of  English  settle- 
ment. It  was  impossible  that  they  should 
win,  for  civilization  has  in  such  cases  ever 
triumphed  over  savagery;  but  that  they 
should  make  the  attempt  was  to  be  expected 
from  a  high-spirited  race  trained  to  war. 
We  can  but  sympathize  with  and  honor  them 
for  making  their  several  stout  stands  against 
the  European  wave  which  was  ultimately  to 
sweep  them  from  their  native  land.*  King 


*  "I  had  rafher  receive  the  blessing  of  one  poor  Cherokee, 
as  he  casts  his  last  look  back  upon  his  country,  for  having, 
though  in  vain,  attempted  to  prevent  his  banishment,  than  to 
sleep  beneath  the  marble  of  all  the  Caesars." — Extract  from  a 
speech  of  Theodore  Frelinghuysen,  of  New  Jersey,  delivered 
in  the  United  States  Senate,  April  7,  1830. 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  any  community  has  a  right  to  force 
another  to  be  civilized." — John  Stuart  Mill. 

51 


Daniel  Boone 

Philip,  Opecancano,  Pontiac,  Tecumseh,  Red 
Jacket,  Sitting  Bull,  Captain  Jack,  were 
types  of  successive  leaders  who,  at  various 
stages  of  our  growth  westward,  have  stood 
as  bravely  as  any  Spartan  hero  to  contest 
our  all-conquering  advance. 

It  is  the  time-honored  custom  of  histori- 
ans of  the  frontier  to  consider  Indians  as 
all  wrong  and  whites  as  all  right;  and  that, 
of  course,  was  the  opinion  of  the  borderers 
themselves — of  Daniel  Boone  and  all  the  men 
of  his  day.  But  we  are  now  far  enough  re- 
moved from  these  events,  and  the  fierce  pas- 
sions they  engendered,  to  see  them  more 
clearly.  The  Indian  was  a  savage  and 
fought  like  a  savage — cruel,  bloodthirsty,  un- 
relenting, treacherous,  seldom  a  respecter  of 
childhood,  of  age,  or  of  women.  But  one 
can  not  read  closely  the  chronicles  of  border 
warfare  without  discovering  that  civilized 
men  at  times  could,  in  fighting  savages,  de- 
scend quite  as  low  in  the  scale  as  they,  in 
bloodthirstiness  and  treachery.  Some  of  the 
most  atrocious  acts  in  the  pioneer  history  of 
Kentucky  and  the  Middle  West  were  per- 
formed by  whites;  and  some  of  the  most 
52 


Red  Man  Against  White  Man 

Christianlike  deeds — there  were  many  such 
on  both  sides — were  those  of  painted  sav- 
ages. 

It  is  needless  to  blame  either  of  the  con- 
tending races;  their  conflict  was  inevitable. 
The  frontiersman  was  generally  unlettered, 
and  used,  without  ceremony,  to  overcoming 
the  obstacles  which  nature  set  in  his  path; 
one  more  patient  could  not  have  tamed  the 
wilderness  as  quickly  as  he.  His  children 
often  rose  to  high  positions  as  scholars, 
statesmen,  and  diplomats.  But  he  himself 
was  a  diamond  in  the  rough,  and  not  accus- 
tomed to  nice  ethical  distinctions.  To  his 
mind  the  Indian  was  an  inferior  being,  if 
not  a  child  of  Satan ;  he  was  not  making  the 
best  use  of  the  soil;  his  customs  and  habits 
of  thought  were  such  as  to  repel  the  British 
mind,  however  much  they  may  have  attracted 
the  French.  The  tribesmen,  whom  the  pio- 
neer could  not  and  would  not  understand, 
stood  in  his  way,  hence  must  be  made  to  go  or 
to  die  in  his  tracks.  When  the  savage,  quick 
to  resentment,  struck  back,  the  turbulent  pas- 
sions of  the  overbearing  white  were  aroused, 
and  with  compound  interest  he  repaid  the 
53 


Daniel  Boone 

blow.  Upon  the  theory  that  the  devil  must 
be  fought  with  fire,  the  borderer  not  seldom 
adopted  methods  of  reprisal  that  outdid  the 
savage  in  brutality. 

The  red  man  fighting,  after  his  own  wild 
standards,  for  all  that  he  held  most  dear,  and 
the  white  man,  who  brooks  no  opposition 
from  an  inferior  race,  hitting  back  with  a 
fury  sometimes  increased  by  fear — such,  in 
brief,  is  the  blood-stained  history  of  the 
American  border. 


CHAPTER  V 

KENTUCKY  REACHED  AT  LAST 

WHEN  Daniel  Boone  returned  from  tide- 
water Virginia  to  the  Yadkin  region  is  not 
now  known.  It  is  probable  that  the  monotony 
of  hauling  tobacco  to  market  at  a  time  when 
his  old  neighbors  were  living  in  a  state  of 
panic  palled  upon  a  man  who  loved  excite- 
ment and  had  had  a  taste  of  Indian  warfare. 
It  has  been  surmised  that  he  served  with 
the  Rowan  rangers  upon  Lyttleton's  cam- 
paign, alluded  to  in  the  previous  chapter, 
and  possibly  aided  in  defending  Fort  Dobbs, 
or  served  with  Waddell  under  Montgomery. 
That  he  was,  some  time  in  1760,  in  the  moun- 
tains west  of  the  Yadkin  upon  either  a  hunt 
or  a  scout,  or  both,  appears  to  be  well  es- 
tablished; for  up  to  a  few  years  ago  there 
was  still  standing  upon  the  banks  of  Boone's 
Creek,  a  small  tributary  of  the  Watauga  in 
eastern  Tennessee,  a  tree  upon  whose  smooth 
bark  had  been  rudely  carved  this  character- 
55 


Daniel  Boone 

istic  legend,  undoubtedly  by  the  great  hunter 
himself:  "  D  Boon  cilled  A  BAR  on  this  tree 
year  1760."  * 

We  have  already  seen  that  he  accompa- 
nied Waddell  in  1761,  when  that  popular 
frontier  leader  reenforced  Colonel  Byrd's  ex- 
pedition against  the  Cherokees.  Upon  Wad- 
dell's  return  to  North  Carolina  his  leather- 
shirted  followers  dispersed  to  their  homes, 
and  Boone  was  again  enabled  to  undertake  a 
protracted  hunt,  no  longer  disturbed  by  fear 
that  in  his  absence  Indians  might  raid  the 
settlement;  for  hunting  was  now  his  chief 
occupation,  his  wife  and  children  conducting 
the  farm,  which  held  second  place  in  his  af- 
fections. Thus  we  see  how  close  the  border- 
ers came  to  the  savage  life  wherein  men  are 
the  warriors  and  hunters  and  women  the 
crop-gatherers  and  housekeepers.  Organiz- 
ing a  party  of  kindred  spirits — a  goodly  por- 
tion of  the  Yadkin  settlers  were  more  hunters 
than  farmers — Boone  crossed  the  mountains 
and  roamed  through  the  valleys  of  southwest 

*  Boone  had  a  strong  fancy  for  earring  his  name  and  hunt- 
ing feats  upon  trees.  His  wanderings  have  very  largely  been 
traced  by  this  means. 

56 


A  BOONE  TREE. 

Tree  on  Boone's  Creek,  Tenn.,  bearing  Daniel  Boone's  autograph. 
(See  pp.  55,  56.) 


Kentucky  Reached  at  Last 

Virginia  and  eastern  Tennessee,  being  es- 
pecially delighted  with  the  Valley  of  the 
Holston,  where  game  was  found  to  be  unusu- 
ally abundant.  At  about  the  same  time  an- 
other party  of  nineteen  hunters  went  upon  a 
similar  expedition  into  the  hills  and  valleys 
westward  of  the  Yadkin,  penetrating  well 
into  Tennessee,  and  being  absent  for  eight- 
een months. 

We  must  not  conclude,  from  the  passion- 
ate devotion  to  hunting  exhibited  by  these 
backwoodsmen  of  the  eighteenth  century, 
that  they  led  the  same  shiftless,  aimless  lives 
as  are  followed  by  the  "  poor  whites  "  found 
in  some  of  the  river-bottom  communities  of 
our  own  day,  who  are  in  turn  farmers,  fisher- 
men, or  hunters,  as  fancy  or  the  seasons  dic- 
tate. It  must  be  remembered  that  farming 
upon  the  Virginia  and  Carolina  uplands  was, 
in  the  pioneer  period,  crude  as  to  methods 
and  insignificant  as  to  crops.  The  principal 
wealth  of  the  well-to-do  was  in  herds  of 
horses  and  cattle  which  grazed  in  wild  mead- 
ows, and  in  droves  of  long-nosed  swine  feed- 
ing upon  the  roots  and  acorns  of  the  hillside 
forests.  Among  the  outlying  settlers  much 
57 


Daniel  Boone 

of  the  family  food  came  from  the  woods,  and 
often  months  would  pass  without  bread  be- 
ing seen  inside  the  cabin  walls.  Besides  the 
live  stock  of  the  richer  folk,  whose  herds  were 
driven  to  market,  annual  caravans  to  tide- 
water towns  carried  furs  and  skins  won  by 
the  real  backwoodsmen,  who  lived  on  the 
fringe  of  the  wilderness.  For  lack  of  money 
accounts  were  kept  in  pelts,  and  with  these 
were  purchased  rifles,  ammunition,  iron,  and 
salt.  It  was,  then,  to  the  forests  that  the 
borderers  largely  looked  for  their  suste- 
nance. Hence  those  long  hunts,  from  which 
the  men  of  the  Yadkin,  unerring  marksmen, 
would  come  back  laden  with  great  packs  of 
pelts  for  the  markets,  and  dried  venison, 
bear's  meat,  and  bear's  oil  for  their  family 
larders.  Naturally,  this  wandering,  ad- 
venturous life,  spiced  with  excitement  in 
many  forms,  strongly  appealed  to  the  rough, 
hardy  borderers,  and  unfitted  them  for  other 
occupations.  Under  such  conditions  farm- 
ing methods  were  not  likely  to  improve,  nor 
the  arts  of  civilization  to  prosper;  for  the 
hunter  not  only  best  loved  the  wilder- 
ness, but  settlement  narrowed  his  hunting- 
58 


Kentucky  Reached  at  Last 

grounds.  Thus  it  was  that  the  frontiersman 
of  the  Daniel  Boone  type,  Indian  hater  as  he 
was,  had  at  heart  much  the  same  interests 
as  the  savage  whom  he  was  seeking  to  sup- 
plant. It  was  simply  a  question  as  to  which 
hunter,  red  or  white,  should  occupy  the  for- 
est; to  neither  was  settlement  welcome. 

With  the  opening  of  1762  the  southwest 
border  began  to  be  reoccupied.  The  aban- 
doned log  cabins  once  more  had  fires  lighted 
upon  their  hearths,  at  the  base  of  the  great 
outside  chimneys  of  stones  and  mud-plastered 
boughs;  the  deserted  clearings,  which  had 
become  choked  with  weeds  and  underbrush 
in  the  five  years  of  Indian  warfare,  were 
again  cultivated  by  their  reassured  owners. 
Among  the  returned  refugees  were  Daniel's 
parents,  Squire  and  Sarah  Boone,  who  had 
ridden  on  horseback  overland  all  the  way 
from  Maryland.  Three  years  later  Squire 
Boone  died,  one  of  the  most  highly  esteemed 
men  in  the  valley. 

The  Yadkin  country  was  more  favored 

than  some  other  portions  of  the  backwoods 

of     North     Carolina.       Pontiac's     uprising 

(1763)   against  the  English,  who  had  now 

59 


Daniel  Boone 

supplanted  the  French  in  Canada  and  in  the 
wilderness  between  the  Alleghanies  and  the 
Mississippi,  led  some  of  the  Southern  tribes 
again  to  attack  the  frontiers  of  the  South- 
west ;  but  they  were  defeated  before  the  Yad- 
kin  was  affected  by  this  fresh  panic. 

The  Indian  wars  had  lasted  so  long  that 
the  entire  border  had  become  demoralized. 
Of  course  not  all  the  people  in  the  backwoods 
were  of  good  character.  Not  a  few  of  them 
had  been  driven  out  from  the  more  thickly 
settled  parts  of  the  country  because  of  crimes 
or  of  bad  reputation;  and  some  of  the  fur- 
traders  who  lived  upon  the  edge  of  the  set- 
tlement were  sorry  rogues.  When  the  panic- 
stricken  people  were  crowded  within  the  nar- 
row walls  of  the  forts  they  could  not  work. 
Many  of  them  found  this  life  of  enforced 
idleness  to  their  liking,  and  fell  into  the  habit 
of  making  secret  expeditions  to  plunder 
abandoned  houses  and  to  steal  uncared-for 
live  stock.  When  peace  came  these  maraud- 
ers had  acquired  a  distaste  for  honest  labor ; 
leaving  the  forts,  they  pillaged  right  and  left, 
and  horse-stealing  became  an  especially 
prevalent  frontier  vice. 
60 


Kentucky  Reached  at  Last 

Justice  on  the  border  was  as  yet  insuffi- 
ciently organized.  Some  of  the  Virginia  and 
Carolina  magistrates  were  themselves  ras- 
cals, whose  decisions  could  be  purchased  by 
criminals.  Many  of  the  best  citizens,  there- 
fore, formed  associations  whose  members 
were  called  "  regulators."  They  bound 
themselves  to  pursue,  arrest,  and  try  crim- 
inals, and  to  punish  them  by  whipping,  also 
by  expulsion  from  the  neighborhood.  The 
law-breakers,  on  the  other  hand,  organized 
in  defense,  and  popular  opinion  was  divided 
between  the  two  elements;  for  there  were 
some  good  people  who  did  not  like  the  arbi- 
trary methods  of  the  regulators,  and  insisted 
upon  every  man  being  given  a  regular  trial 
by  jury.  In  South  Carolina,  particularly, 
the  settlers  were  much  exercised  on  this 
question,  and  arrayed  themselves  into  oppo- 
sing bands,  armed  to  carry  out  their  respect- 
ive views.  For  a  time  civil  war  was  feared ; 
but  finally,  after  five  years  of  disturbance, 
an  agreement  was  reached,  efficient  courts 
were  established,  and  justice  triumphed. 

Affairs  did  not  reach  so  serious  a  stage 
in  North  Carolina.  Nevertheless  there  were 
61 


Daniel  Boone 

several  bands  of  vicious  and  indolent  men, 
who,  entrenched  in  the  hills,  long  defied  the 
regulators.  One  of  these  parties  built  a 
rude  stockaded  fort  beneath  an  overhanging 
cliff  in  the  mountains  back  of  the  Yadkin 
settlements.  They  stole  horses,  cattle,  farm- 
ing utensils ;  in  fact,  anything  that  they  could 
lay  their  hands  upon.  One  day  they  grew  so 
bold  as  to  kidnap  a  girl.  The  settlers,  now 
roused  to  action,  organized  attacking  com- 
panies, one  of  them  headed  by  Daniel  Boone, 
and  carried  the  log  fortress  of  the  bandits 
by  storm.  The  culprits  were  taken  to  Salis- 
bury jail  and  the  clan  broken  up. 

The  rapid  growth  of  the  country  soon 
made  game  scarce  in  Boone's  neighborhood. 
Not  only  did  the  ever-widening  area  of 
cleared  fields  destroy  the  cover,  but  there 
were,  of  course,  more  hunters  than  before. 
Thus  our  Nimrod,  who  in  his  early  manhood 
cared  for  nothing  smaller  than  deer,  was 
compelled  to  take  extended  trips  in  his 
search  for  less-frequented  places.  It  was  not 
long  before  he  had  explored  all  the  moun- 
tains and  valleys  within  easy  reach,  and  be- 
come familiar  with  the  views  from  every 
62 


Kentucky  Reached  at  Last 

peak  in  the  region,  many  of  them  five  and  six 
thousand  feet  in  height. 

As  early  as  1764-65  Boone  was  in  the 
habit  of  taking  with  him,  upon  these  trips 
near  home,  his  little  son  James,  then  seven 
or  eight  years  of  age.  This  was  partly  for 
company,  but  mainly  for  the  lad's  education 
as  a  hunter.  Frequently  they  would  spend 
several  days  together  in  the  woods  during  the 
autumn  and  early  winter — the  deer-hunting 
season — and  often,  when  in  "  open  "  camps, 
were  overtaken  by  snow-storms.  On  such 
occasions  the  father  would  keep  the  boy 
warm  by  clasping  him  to  his  bosom  as  they 
lay  with  feet  toward  the  glowing  camp-fire. 
As  the  well-taught  lad  grew  into  early  man- 
hood these  two  companions  would  be  absent 
from  home  for  two  and  three  months  to- 
gether, always  returning  well  laden  with  the 
spoils  of  the  chase. 

Hunters  in  Boone's  day  had  two  kinds  of 
camp — "  open  "  when  upon  the  move,  which 
meant  sleeping  in  their  blankets  upon  the 
ground  wherever  darkness  or  weariness 
overtook  them ;  "  closed  "  where  remaining 
for  some  time  in  a  locality.  A  closed  camp 
63 


Daniel  Boone 

consisted  of  a  rude  hut  of  logs  or  poles,  the 
front  entirely  open,  the  sides  closely  chinked 
with  moss,  and  the  roof  covered  with  blank- 
ets, boughs,  or  bark,  sloping  down  to  a  back- 
log. In  times  when  the  Indians  were  not 
feared  a  fire  was  kept  up  throughout  the 
night,  in  front,  in  order  to  warm  the  enclo- 
sure. Upon  a  bed  of  hemlock  boughs  or  of 
dried  leaves  the  hunters  lay  with  heads  to 
the  back-log  and  stockinged  feet  to  the  blaze, 
for  their  spongy  moccasins  were  hung  to  dry.* 
Such  a  camp,  often  called  a  "  half -faced 
cabin,"  was  carefully  placed  so  that  it  might 
be  sheltered  by  neighboring  hills  from  the 
cold  north  and  west  winds.  It  was  fairly 
successful  as  a  protection  from  rain  and 
snow,  and  sometimes  served  a  party  of  hunt- 
ers throughout  several  successive  seasons; 
but  it  was  ill-fitted  for  the  coldest  weather. 
Boone  frequently  occupied  a  shelter  of  this 
kind  in  the  woods  of  Kentucky. 

During  the  last  four  months  of  1765 
Boone  and  seven  companions  went  on  horse- 
back to  the  new  colony  of  Florida  with  a  view 

*  When  Indians  were  about,  moccasins  were  always  tied  to 
the  guns  so  as  to  be  ready  to  slip  on  in  case  of  a  night  alarm. 

64 


Kentucky  Reached  at  Last 

to  moving  thither  if  they  found  it  suited 
to  their  tastes.  Wherever  possible,  they 
stopped  overnight  at  borderers'  cabins  upon 
the  frontiers  of  the  Carolinas  and  Georgia. 
But  such  opportunities  did  not  always  occur ; 
they  often  suffered  from  hunger,  and  once 
they  might  have  died  from  starvation  but  for 
the  timely  succor  of  a  roving  band  of  Semi- 
nole  Indians.  They  explored  Florida  all  the 
way  from  St.  Augustine  to  Pensacola,  and 
appear  to  have  had  a  rather  wretched  time 
of  it.  The  trails  were  miry  from  frequent 
rains,  the  number  and  extent  of  the  swamps 
appalled  them,  and  there  was  not  game 
enough  to  satisfy  a  man  like  Boone,  who 
scorned  alligators.  Pensacola,  however,  so 
pleased  him  that  he  determined  to  settle 
there,  and  purchased  a  house  and  lot  which 
he  might  in  due  time  occupy.  Upon  their  re- 
turn Boone  told  his  wife  of  his  Pensacola  ven- 
ture, but  this  sturdy  woman  of  the  frontier 
spurned  the  idea  of  moving  to  a  gameless 
land.  So  the  town  lot  was  left  to  take  care 
of  itself,  and  henceforth  the  dutiful  husband 
looked  only  to  the  West  as  his  model  of  a 
perfect  country. 

6  65 


Daniel  Boone 

At  the  close  of  the  French  and  Indian 
War  there  arrived  in  the  Boone  settlement 
a  Scotch-Irishman  named  Benjamin  Cut- 
birth,  aged  about  twenty-three  years.  He 
was  a  man  of  good  character  and  a  fine  hunt- 
er. Marrying  Elizabeth  Wilcoxen,  a  niece  of 
Daniel  Boone,  he  and  Boone  went  upon  long 
hunts  together,  and  attained  that  degree  of 
comradeship  which  joint  life  in  a  wilderness 
camp  is  almost  certain  to  produce. 

In  1766  several  families  from  North  Caro- 
lina went  to  Louisiana,  apparently  by  sea  to 
New  Orleans,  and  founded  an  English  set- 
tlement above  Baton  Rouge  on  the  Missis- 
sippi River.  The  news  of  this  event  gave 
rise  to  a  general  desire  for  exploring  the 
country  between  the  mountains  and  the  great 
river.  The  year  following,  Cutbirth,  John 
Stuart,  John  Baker,  and  John  Ward,  all  of 
them  young  married  men  on  the  Yadkin,  and 
excellent  hunters,  resolved  to  perform  this 
feat,  and  if  possible  to  discover  a  region  su- 
perior to  their  own  valley.  They  crossed  the 
mountain  range  and  eventually  saw  the  Mis- 
sissippi, being,  so  far  as  we  know  from  con- 
temporary documents,  the  first  party  of 
66 


Kentucky  Reached  at  Last 

white  men  to  succeed  in  this  overland  enter- 
prise. Possibly  fur-traders  may  have  done 
so  before  them,  but  they  left  no  record  to 
prove  it. 

Cutbirth  and  his  friends  spent  a  year  or 
two  upon  the  river.  In  the  autumn  they  as- 
cended the  stream  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, also  one  of  its  tributaries,  made  a  sta- 
tionary camp  for  the  winter,  and  in  the 
spring  descended  to  New  Orleans,  where  they 
sold  at  good  prices  their  skins,  furs,  bear- 
bacon,  bear's  oil,  buffalo  "jerk"  (dried 
meat),  tallow,  and  dried  venison  hams. 
Their  expedition  down  the  river  was  per- 
formed at  great  risks,  for  they  had  many 
hairbreadth  escapes  from  snags,  river  banks 
shelving  in,  whirlpools,  wind-storms,  and  In- 
dians. Their  reward,  says  a  chronicler  of 
the  day,  was  "  quite  a  respectable  prop- 
erty ; "  but  while  upon  their  return  home- 
ward, overland,  they  were  set  upon  by  Choc- 
taws,  who  robbed  them  of  their  all. 

Meanwhile,   Daniel  Boone  was   slow  in 

making  up  his  mind  to  leave  home  and  the 

wife  and  family  whom  he  dearly  loved  for  so 

long  and  perilous  a  trip  as  a  journey  into 

67 


Daniel  Boone 

the  now  much-talked-of  land  of  Kentucky. 
Perhaps,  despite  his  longings,  he  might  never 
have  gone  had  affairs  upon  the  Yadkin  re- 
mained satisfactory  to  him.  But  game,  his 
chief  reliance,  was  year  by  year  becoming 
harder  to  obtain.  And  the  rascally  agents 
of  Earl  Granville,  the  principal  landholder 
of  the  region,  from  whom  the  Boones  had 
purchased,  were  pretending  to  find  flaws  in 
the  land-titles  and  insisting  upon  the  neces- 
sity for  new  deeds,  for  which  large  fees  were 
exacted. 

This  gave  rise  to  great  popular  discon- 
tent. Boone's  protest  consisted  in  leaving 
the  Sugar  Tree  settlement  and  moving  north- 
west for  sixty-five  miles  toward  the  head  of 
the  Yadkin.  His  new  cabin,  a  primitive  shell 
of  logs,  could  still  be  seen,  a  few  years  ago, 
at  the  foot  of  a  range  of  hills  some  seven 
and  a  half  miles  above  Wilkesboro,  in  Wilkes 
County.  After  a  time,  dissatisfied  with  this 
location,  he  moved  five  miles  farther  up  the 
river  and  about  half  a  mile  up  Beaver  Creek. 
Again  he  changed  his  mind,  choosing  his 
final  home  on  the  upper  Yadkin,  just  above 
the  mouth  of  Beaver.  It  was  from  this  beau- 
68 


Kentucky  Reached  at  Last 

tiful  region  among  the  Alleghany  foot-hills, 
where  game  and  fish  were  plenty  and  his 
swine  and  cattle  had  good  range,  that  Boone, 
crowded  out  by  advancing  civilization,  even- 
tually moved  to  Kentucky. 

In  the  spring  and  early  summer  of  1767 
there  were  fresh  outbreaks  on  the  part  of 
the  Indians.  Governor  Tryon  had  run  a 
boundary-line  between  the  back  settlements 
of  the  Carolinas  and  the  Cherokee  hunting- 
grounds.  But  hunters  and  traders  would 
persist  in  wandering  to  the  west  of  this  line, 
and  sometimes  they  were  killed. 

In  the  autumn  of  that  year  Daniel  Boone 
and  a  warm  friend,  William  Hill,  and  possi- 
bly Squire  Boone,  determined  to  seek  Ken- 
tucky, of  which  Finley  had  told  him  twelve 
years  before.  They  crossed  the  mountain 
wall,  were  in  the  valleys  of  the  Holston  and 
the  Clinch,  and  reached  the  head  waters  of 
the  West  Fork  of  the  Big  Sandy.  Following 
down  this  river  for  a  hundred  miles,  deter- 
mined to  find  the  Ohio,  they  appear  to  have 
struck  a  buffalo-path,  along  which  they  trav- 
eled as  far  as  a  salt-lick  ten  miles  west  of 
the  present  town  of  Prestonburg,  on  a  tribu- 
69 


Daniel  Boone 

tary  of  the  West  (or  Louisa)  Fork  of  the 
Sandy,  within  Floyd  County,  in  the  extreme 
eastern  part  of  Kentucky. 

Caught  in  a  severe  snow-storm,  they  were 
compelled  to  camp  at  this  lick  for  the  entire 
winter.  It  proved  to  be  the  most  profitable 
station  that  they  could  have  selected,  for  buf- 
faloes and  other  animals  came  in  large  num- 
bers to  lick  the  brackish  soil,  and  all  the  hunt- 
ers had  to  do  was  to  "  rise,  kill,  and  eat." 

Although  now  considerably  west  of  the 
Cumberland  Mountains,  the  explorers  were 
not  aware  that  they  were  within  the  famed 
Kentucky ;  and  as  the  country  was  very  hilly, 
covered  with  briers  which  annoyed  them 
greatly,  and  altogether  forbidding,  they  de- 
spaired of  reaching  the  promised  land  by 
this  path,  and  in  the  spring  returned  to  the 
Yadkin. 


CHAPTER  VI 

ALONE   IN  THE   WILDERNESS 

IN  the  winter  of  1768-69  a  pedler  with 
horse  and  wagon  wandered  into  the  valley 
of  the  upper  Yadkin,  offering  small  wares 
to  the  settlers'  wives.  This  was  thrifty  John 
Finley,  former  fur-trader  and  Indian  fighter, 
who,  thirteen  years  before,  had,  as  we  have 
seen,  fraternized  with  Boone  in  Braddock's 
ill-fated  army  on  the  Monongahela.  Finley 
had,  in  1752,  in  his  trade  with  the  Indians, 
descended  the  Ohio  in  a  canoe  to  the  site  of 
Louisville,  accompanied  by  three  or  four 
voyageurs,  and,  with  some  of  his  dusky  cus- 
tomers, traveled  widely  through  the  interior 
of  Kentucky.  His  glowing  descriptions  of 
this  beautiful  land  had  inspired  Boone  to  try 
to  find  it.  The  latter  was  still  sorrowing  over 
his  unpromising  expedition  by  way  of  the  Big 
Sandy  when,  by  the  merest  chance,  the  man 
who  had  fired  his  imagination  knocked  at  his 
very  door. 

71 


Daniel  Boone 

Throughout  the  winter  that  Finley  was 
Daniel's  guest,  he  and  his  brother  Squire  were 
ready  listeners  to  the  pedler's  stories  of  the 
over-mountain  country — tales  of  countless 
water-fowl,  turkeys,  deer,  elk,  and  buffaloes, 
which  doubtless  lost  nothing  in  the  telling. 
The  two  Boones  resolved  to  try  Finley's  pro- 
posed route  by  way  of  Cumberland  Gap,  and 
the  fur-trader  promised  to  lead  the  way. 

After  the  spring  crops  were  in,  Finley, 
Daniel  Boone,  and  the  latter's  brother-in-law, 
John  Stuart,  started  from  Daniel's  house 
upon  the  first  of  May.  In  their  employ,  as 
hunters  and  camp-keepers,  were  three  neigh- 
bors— Joseph  Holden,  James  Mooney,  and 
William  Cooley.  Each  man  was  fully  armed, 
clad  in  the  usual  deerskin  costume  of  the 
frontier,  and  mounted  upon  a  good  horse; 
blanket  or  bearskin  was  strapped  on  behind 
the  saddle,  together  with  camp-kettle,  a  store 
of  salt,  and  a  small  supply  of  provisions,  al- 
though their  chief  food  was  to  be  game. 
Squire  remained  to  care  for  the  crops  of  the 
two  families,  and  agreed  to  reenforce  the 
hunters  late  in  the  autumn. 

Scaling  the  lofty  Blue  Eidge,  the  explorers 
72 


Alone  in  the  Wilderness 

passed  over  Stone  and  Iron  Mountains  and 
reached  Holston  Valley,  whence  they  pro- 
ceeded through  Moccasin  Gap  of  Clinch 
Mountain,  and  crossed  over  intervening  riv- 
ers and  densely  wooded  hills  until  they  came 
to  Powell's  Valley,  then  the  farthest  limit  of 
white  settlement.  Here  they  found  a  hunt- 
er's trail  which  led  them  through  Cumber- 
land Gap.  The  "warriors'  path" — trodden 
by  Indian  war-parties  from  across  the  moun- 
tains— was  now  discovered,  and  this  they  fol- 
lowed by  easy  stages  until  at  last  they 
reached  what  is  now  called  Station  Camp 
Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Kentucky  River,  in 
Estill  County,  Ky. — so  named  because  here 
was  built  their  principal,  or  "  station  "  camp, 
the  center  of  their  operations  for  many 
months  to  come. 

While  Boone,  Finley,  and  Stuart  made 
frequent  explorations,  and  Boone  in  particu- 
lar ascended  numerous  lofty  hills  in  order  to 
view  the  country,  the  chief  occupation  of  the 
party  was  hunting.  Throughout  the  summer 
and  autumn  deerskins  were  in  their  best 
condition.  Other  animals  were  occasionally 
killed  to  afford  variety  of  food,  but  fur-bear- 
73 


Daniel  Boone 

ers  as  a  rule  only  furnish  fine  pelts  in  the 
winter  season.  Even  in  the  days  of  abun- 
dant game  the  hunter  was  required  to  exer- 
cise much  skill,  patience,  and  endurance.  It 
was  no  holiday  task  to  follow  this  calling. 
Deer,  especially,  were  difficult  to  obtain. 
The  habits  of  this  excessively  cautious  ani- 
mal were  carefully  studied;  the  hunter  must 
know  how  to  imitate  its  various  calls,  to  take 
advantage  of  wind  and  weather,  and  to  prac- 
tise all  the  arts  of  strategy. 

Deerskins  were,  all  things  considered,  the 
most  remunerative  of  all.  When  roughly 
dressed  and  dried  they  were  worth  about  a 
dollar  each;  as  they  were  numerous,  and  a 
horse  could  carry  for  a  long  distance  about  a 
hundred  such  skins,  the  trade  was  considered 
profitable  in  those  primitive  times,  when  dol- 
lars were  hard  to  obtain.  Pelts  of  beavers, 
found  in  good  condition  only  in  the  winter, 
were  worth  about  two  dollars  and  a  half 
each,  and  of  otters  from  three  to  five  dollars. 
Thus,  a  horse-load  of  beaver  furs,  when  ob- 
tainable, was  worth  about  five  times  that  of  a 
load  of  deerskins ;  and  if  a  few  otters  could 
be  thrown  in,  the  value  was  still  greater.  The 
74 


Alone  in  the  Wilderness 

skins  of  buffaloes,  bears,  and  elks  were  too 
bulky  to  carry  for  long  distances,  and  were 
not  readily  marketable.  A  few  elk-hides  were 
needed,  however,  to  cut  up  into  harness  and 
straps,  and  bear-  and  buffalo-robes  were  use- 
ful for  bedding. 

When  an  animal  was  killed  the  hunter 
skinned  it  on  the  spot,  and  packed  on  his 
back  the  hide  and  the  best  portion  of  the 
meat.  At  night  the  meat  was  smoked  or  pre- 
pared for  "jerking,"  and  the  skins  were 
scraped  and  cured.  "When  collected  at  the 
camps,  the  bales  of  skins,  protected  from 
the  weather  by  strips  of  bark,  were  placed 
upon  high  scaffolds,  secure  from  bears  and 
wolves. 

Our  Yadkin  hunters  were  in  the  habit, 
each  day,  of  dividing  themselves  into  pairs 
for  company  and  mutual  aid  in  times  of 
danger,  usually  leaving  one  pair  behind  as 
camp-keepers.  Boone  and  Stuart  frequently 
were  companions  upon  such  trips;  for  the 
former,  being  a  man  of  few  words,  enjoyed 
by  contrast  the  talkative,  happy  disposition 
of  his  friend.  Occasionally  the  entire  party, 
when  the  game  grew  timid,  moved  for  some 
75 


Daniel  Boone 

distance,  where  they  would  establish  a  new 
camp;  but  their  headquarters  remained  at 
Station  Camp,  where  were  kept  their  princi- 
pal skins,  furs,  and  stores.  In  this  way  the 
time  passed  from  June  to  December.  Boone 
used  to  assert,  in  after  years,  that  these 
months  were  the  happiest  of  his  life.  The 
genial  climate,  the  beauty  of  the  country,  and 
the  entire  freedom  of  this  wild  life,  strongly 
appealed  to  him.  Here  this  taciturn  but 
good-natured  man,  who  loved  solitary  adven- 
ture, was  now  in  his  element.  Large  packs  of 
skins  had  been  obtained  by  the  little  com- 
pany and  stored  at  Station  Camp  and  their 
outlying  shelters;  and  there  was  now  a  gen- 
erous supply  of  buffalo,  bear,  and  elk  meat, 
venison,  and  turkeys,  all  properly  jerked  for 
the  winter  which  was  before  them,  with  buf- 
falo tallow  and  bear's  oil  to  serve  as  cooking 
grease. 

Finley  and  Boone  were  both  aware  that 
Kentucky  lay  between  the  warring  tribes  of 
the  North  and  the  South;  that  through  it 
warriors'  paths  crossed  in  several  directions ; 
and  that  this,  probably  the  finest  hunting- 
field  in  North  America,  was  a  debatable  land, 
76 


Alone  in  the  Wilderness 

frequently  fought  over  by  contending  sav- 
ages— a  "  dark  and  bloody  ground  "  indeed. 
,Yet  thus  far  there  had  been  no  signs  of  In- 
dians, and  the  Carolina  hunters  had  almost 
ceased  to  think  of  them. 

Toward  the  close  of  day  on  the  twenty- 
second  of  December,  while  Boone  and  Stuart 
were  ascending  a  low  hill  near  the  Kentucky 
River,  in  one  of  the  most  beautiful  districts 
they  had  seen,  they  were  suddenly  surround- 
ed and  captured  by  a  large  party  of  Shaw- 
nese  horsemen  returning  from  an  autumn 
hunt  on  Green  River  to  their  homes  north 
of  the  Ohio.  The  two  captives  were  forced 
to  lead  the  savages  to  their  camps,  which 
were  deliberately  plundered,  one  after  the 
other,  of  everything  in  them.  The  Shaw- 
nese,  releasing  their  prisoners,  considerately 
left  with  each  hunter  just  enough  supplies 
to  enable  him  to  support  himself  on  the  way 
back  to  the  settlements.  The  white  men 
were  told  what  was  a  fact  under  existing 
treaties  with  the  tribes — treaties,  however,  of 
which  Boone  and  his  companions  probably 
knew  nothing — that  they  were  trespassing 
upon  Indian  hunting-grounds,  and  must  not 
77 


Daniel  Boone 

come  again,  or  "the  wasps  and  yellow- 
jackets  will  sting  you  severely." 

The  others  proposed  to  leave  for  home  at 
once ;  but  Boone  and  Stuart,  enraged  at  hav- 
ing lost  their  year's  work  and  all  that  they 
had  brought  into  the  wilderness,  and  having 
no  sympathy  for  Indian  treaty  rights,  start- 
ed out  to  recover  their  property.  After  two 
days  they  came  up  with  the  Shawnese,  and 
secreting  themselves  in  the  bushes  until  dark, 
contrived  to  regain  four  or  five  horses  and 
make  off  with  them.  But  they,  in  turn,  were 
overtaken  in  two  days  by  the  Indians  and 
again  made  prisoners.  After  a  week  of  cap- 
tivity, in  which  they  were  kindly  treated,  they 
effected  their  escape  in  the  dark  and  re- 
turned to  Station  Camp. 

Their  companions,  giving  them  up  for 
lost,  had  departed  toward  home,  but  were 
overtaken  by  the  two  adventurers.  Boone 
was  gratified  to  find  with  them  his  brother 
Squire,  who,  having  gathered  the  fall  crops, 
had  come  out  with  a  fresh  supply  of  horses, 
traps,  and  ammunition.  He  had  followed 
the  trail  of  his  predecessors,  and  in  the  New 
Eiver  region  was  joined  by  Alexander  Neely. 
T8 


Alone  in  the  Wilderness 

Not  finding  Daniel  and  Stuart  at  Station 
Camp,  and  grief-stricken  at  the  report  con- 
cerning them,  he  was  traveling  homeward 
with  the  party. 

Daniel,  however,  who  had  staked  upon 
this  venture  almost  all  that  he  owned,  did 
not  relish  the  thought  of  returning  empty- 
handed,  now  that  reenforcements  had  ar- 
rived, and  determined  to  stay  and  seek  to 
regain  his  lost  fortunes.  Squire,  Stuart,  and 
Neely  concluded  also  to  remain,  and  the  four 
were  now  left  behind  in  the  wilderness.  On 
reaching  the  Holston  Valley,  Finley  turned 
northward  to  seek  his  relatives  in  Pennsyl- 
vania; while  Holden,  Mooney,  and  Cooley 
proceeded  southeastward  to  their  Yadkin 
homes,  carrying  dismal  news  of  the  events  at- 
tending this  notable  exploration  of  Kentucky. 

The  quartette  promptly  abandoned  Sta- 
tion Camp  as  being  dangerously  near  the 
warriors'  path,  and,  tradition  says,  built  an- 
other on  or  near  the  northern  bank  of  Ken- 
tucky River,  not  far  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Eed.  The  deer  season  was  now  over,  but 
beavers  and  otters  were  in  their  prime,  and 
soon  the  hunters  were  enjoying  a  profitable 
79 


Daniel  Boone 

season.  A  small  canoe  which  they  built  add- 
ed greatly  to  their  equipment,  and  they  were 
now  enabled  to  set  their  traps  throughout 
a  wide  region. 

Hunting  in  pairs,  Daniel  was  generally 
accompanied  by  Stuart,  while  Neely  and 
Squire  were  partners.  In  their  wanderings 
the  two  pairs  were  sometimes  several  days 
without  seeing  each  other;  and  frequently 
partners  would  be  separated  throughout  the 
day,  but  at  night  met  at  some  appointed  spot. 
One  day,  toward  the  close  of  January  or 
early  in  February  (1770),  Stuart  did  not  re- 
turn to  the  rendezvous,  much  to  Boone's 
alarm.  The  following  day  the  latter  discov- 
ered the  embers  of  a  fire,  doubtless  built  by 
the  lost  man;  but  that  was  all,  for  Stuart 
was  seen  no  more.  Five  years  later  Boone 
came  across  the  bones  of  his  light-hearted 
comrade  in  a  hollow  sycamore  tree  upon 
Rockcastle  River — he  recognized  them  by 
Stuart's  name  cut  upon  his  powder-horn. 
What  caused  Stuart's  death  is  a  mystery  to 
the  present  day;  possibly  he  was  wounded 
and  chased  by  Indians  to  this  distant  spot, 
and  died  while  in  hiding. 
80 


Alone  in  the  Wilderness 

Stuart's  mysterious  disappearance  fright- 
ened Neely,  who  at  once  left  for  home,  thus 
leaving  Daniel  and  Squire  to  pass  the  re- 
mainder of  the  winter  in  the  wilderness  by 
themselves.  Dejected,  but  not  discouraged, 
the  brothers  built  a  comfortable  hut  and  con- 
tinued their  work.  With  the  close  of  the 
trapping  season  the  ammunition  was  nearly- 
exhausted.  Upon  the  first  of  May,  a  year 
after  Daniel  had  left  his  cabin  upon  the  up- 
per Yadkin,  Squire  started  out  upon  the  re- 
turn, their  horses  well  laden  with  furs,  skins, 
and  jerked  meat.  Both  men  had,  in  their 
enterprise,  contracted  debts  of  considerable 
extent  for  frontier  hunters,  hence  they  were 
anxious  to  square  themselves  with  the  world, 
as  well  as  to  obtain  more  horses,  ammuni- 
tion, and  miscellaneous  supplies. 

Daniel  was  now  left  alone  in  Kentucky, 
"  without  bread,  salt,  or  sugar,  without  com- 
pany of  his  fellow-creatures,  or  even  a  horse 
or  dog."  In  after  years  he  acknowledged 
that  he  was  at  times  homesick  during  the 
three  months  which  followed,  and  felt  deeply 
his  absence  from  the  wife  and  family  to 
whom  he  was  so  warmly  attached.  But  pos- 
7  81 


Daniel  Boone 

sessing  a  cheerful,  hopeful  nature,  he  forgot 
his  loneliness  in  untrammeled  enjoyment  of 
the  far-stretching  wilderness. 

Almost  without  ammunition,  he  could  not 
hunt,  save  to  obtain  sufficient  food,  and  large- 
ly spent  his  time  in  exploration.  Fearing  In- 
dians, he  frequently  changed  his  location, 
sometimes  living  in  shelters  of  bark  and 
boughs,  and  again  in  caves ;  but  seldom  ven- 
turing to  sleep  in  these  temporary  homes, 
preferring  the  thickets  and  the  dense  cane- 
brakes  as  less  liable  to  be  sought  by  savage 
prowlers. 

Kentucky  has  a  remarkably  diversified 
landscape  of  densely  wooded  hills  and  val- 
leys and  broad  prairie  expanses.  The  genial 
climate  admirably  suited  the  philosophical 
wanderer.  He  enjoyed  the  exquisite  beauty 
and  stateliness  of  the  trees — the  sycamores, 
tulip-trees,  sugar-trees,  honey-locusts,  coffee- 
trees,  pawpaws,  cucumber-trees,  and  black 
mulberries — and  found  flowers  in  surprising 
variety  and  loveliness.  The  mineral  springs 
interested  him — Big  Lick,  the  Blue  Licks,  and 
Big  Bone  Lick,  with  its  fossil  remains  of 
mastodons  which  had  become  mired  when 

82 


Alone  in  the  Wilderness 

coming  to  lick  the  brackish  soil.  He  traveled 
far  and  wide  in  his  search  for  the  beautiful 
and  curious,  being  chiefly  in  the  valleys  of 
the  Licking  and  the  Kentucky,  and  upon  the 
banks  of  the  Ohio  as  far  down  as  the  site  of 
Louisville,  where,  at  the  foot  of  the  falls,  he 
inspected  the  remains  of  an  old  fur  trade 
stockade  concerning  which  Finley  had  told 
him. 

Once  he  saw  some  Indians  walking  upon 
the  northern  bank  of  the  Ohio,  but  managed 
himself  to  keep  out  of  sight.  At  another 
time,  when  on  the  Kentucky,  he  saw  a  savage 
calmly  fishing  from  the  trunk  of  a  fallen 
tree.  In  mentioning  this  incident  to  his  fam- 
ily, in  later  days,  he  would  declare  with  grav- 
ity :  "  While  I  was  looking  at  the  fellow  he 
tumbled  into  the  river,  and  I  saw  him  no 
more."  Probably  the  man  of  the  Yadkin 
shot  him,  fearing  that  the  fisherman  might 
carry  the  news  of  the  former's  whereabouts 
to  a  possible  camp  near  by.  On  another  oc- 
casion, when  exploring  Dick's  River,  he  was 
suddenly  surrounded  by  Indians.  Having 
either  to  surrender  or  to  leap  down  the  pre- 
cipitous height  to  a  bank  sixty  feet  below, 
83 


Daniel  Boone 

he  chose  to  leap.  Landing  in  the  top  of  a 
small  sugar-maple,  he  slid  down  the  tree, 
and  was  able  to  escape  by  running  under  the 
overhanging  bank  and  then  swimming  the 
stream.  Adventures  such  as  this  gave 
abundant  spice  to  the  joys  of  solitude. 

In  the  latter  part  of  July  Squire  arrived 
from  the  settlements,  having  paid  all  their 
debts  and  with  the  surplus  purchased  suf- 
ficient supplies  for  another  summer  and  fall 
campaign  against  the  deer.  This  was  highly 
successful.  They  did  not  lack  some  interest- 
ing experiences,  but  Indians  were  not  again 
encountered;  so  that,  when  winter  ap- 
proached, Squire  was  enabled  once  more  to 
leave  with  well-laden  horses  for  the  markets 
of  the  East.  Another  two  months  of  loneli- 
ness were  suffered  by  Daniel;  but  in  De- 
cember Squire  rejoined  him  with  horses,  am- 
munition, and  other  necessaries,  and  the  pair 
joyously  settled  down  for  still  another  winter 
together  in  the  dark  and  lonely  forests  of 
Kentucky. 


CHAPTER   VII 

PREDECESSORS  AND   CONTEMPORARIES 

THE  reader  of  this  narrative  has,  of 
course,  already  discovered  that  Daniel  Boone 
was  neither  the  original  white  explorer  of 
Kentucky  nor  the  first  white  hunter  within 
its  limits.  Many  others  had  been  there  be- 
fore him.  It  will  be  worth  our  while  at  this 
point  to  take  a  hasty  review  of  some  of  the 
previous  expeditions  which  had  made  the 
"  dark  and  bloody  ground "  known  to  the 
world. 

Probably  none  of  the  several  Spanish  ex- 
plorations of  the  sixteenth  century  along  the 
Mississippi  Eiver  and  through  the  Gulf 
States  had  touched  Kentucky.  But  during 
the  seventeenth  century  both  the  French  in 
Canada  and  the  English  on  the  Atlantic  tide- 
water came  to  have  fairly  accurate  notions 
of  the  country  lying  immediately  to  the  south 
of  the  Ohio  River.  As  early  as  1650  Gov- 
ernor Berkeley,  of  Virginia,  made  a  vain  at- 
85 


Daniel  Boone 

tempt  to  cross  the  Alleghany  barrier  in 
search  of  the  Mississippi,  concerning  which 
he  had  heard  from  Indians;  and  we  know 
that  at  the  same  time  the  French,  especially 
the  Jesuit  missionaries,  were  looking  eagerly 
in  that  direction.  A  few  years  later  Colo- 
nel Abraham  Wood,  of  Virginia,  discovered 
streams  which  poured  into  the  Ohio  and  the 
Mississippi.  Just  a  century  before  Boone's 
great  hunt,  John  Lederer,  also  of  Virginia, 
explored  for  a  considerable  distance  beyond 
the  mountains.  The  following  year  Thomas 
Batts  and  his  party  proclaimed  King  Charles 
II  upon  New  Biver,  the  upper  waters  of  the 
Great  Kanawha — twelve  months  before  La 
Salle  took  possession  of  all  Western  waters 
for  the  French  king,  and  nineteen  before 
Marquette  and  Joliet  discovered  the  Missis- 
sippi. 

There  is  a  tradition  that  in  1678,  only 
five  years  after  the  voyage  of  Marquette  and 
Joliet,  a  party  of  New  Englanders  ventured 
into  the  Western  wilderness  as  far  as  New 
Mexico.  The  later  French  expeditions  of 
La  Salle,  Hennepin,  and  D'Iberville  are  well 
known.  Several  Englishmen  traded  with  In- 

86 


Predecessors  and  Contemporaries 

dians  upon  the  Mississippi  before  the  close 
of  the  seventeenth  century ;  by  1719  the  Eng- 
lish were  so  numerous  that  Governor  Keith, 
of  Pennsylvania,  suggested  that  four  forts 
be  built  for  their  protection  in  the  Wabash 
and  Illinois  countries.  We  hear  of  a  French 
expedition  investigating  Big  Bone  Lick,  in- 
Kentucky,  in  1735 ;  and  other  visits  were  suc- 
cessively made  by  bands  of  their  compatriots 
until  the  downfall  of  New  France,  over  a 
quarter  of  a  century  later.  In  1742  John 
Howard  and  Peter  Sailing,  of  Virginia,  were 
exploring  in  Kentucky ;  six  years  after  them 
Dr.  Thomas  Walker  made  a  notable  expedi- 
tion through  the  same  country ;  and  two  years 
after  that  Washington's  backwoods  friend, 
Christopher  Gist,  was  on  the  site  of  Louis- 
ville selecting  lands  for  the  Ohio  Company, 
which  had  a  large  grant  upon  the  Ohio 
Kiver. 

Henceforward,  border  chronicles  abound 
with  reports  of  the  adventures  of  English 
fur-traders,  hunters,  and  land-viewers,  all 
along  the  Ohio  River  and  tributary  waters 
above  Louisville.  Among  these  early  ad- 
venturers was  our  friend  Finley,  whose  ex- 
87 


Daniel  Boone 

periences  in  Kentucky  dated  from  1752,  and 
who  piloted  Boone  to  the  promised  land 
throngh  the  gateway  of  Cumberland  Gap. 
The  subsequent  Indian  wars,  with  the  expe- 
ditions into  the  upper  Ohio  Valley  by  Gen- 
erals Braddock,  Forbes,  and  Bouquet,  made 
the  country  still  better  known;  and  settlers 
were  soon  rushing  in  by  scores,  although  as 
yet  none  of  them  appear  to  have  made  clear- 
ings within  Kentucky  itself. 

Officers  and  soldiers  who  had  served  in 
the  French  and  Indian  War  were  given  lib- 
eral grants  of  land  in  the  West.  Washing- 
ton had  not  only  his  own  grant,  as  the  prin- 
cipal officer  upon  the  southwest  frontier,  but 
was  agent  for  a  number  of  fellow-soldiers, 
and  in  1767  went  to  the  Ohio  River  to  select 
and  survey  claims.  At  the  very  time  when 
Boone  was  engaged  upon  his  fruitless  expe- 
dition down  the  Big  Sandy,  Washington  was 
making  the  first  surveys  in  Kentucky  on  both 
the  Little  and  Big  Sandy.  Again,  in  1770, 
when  Boone  was  exploring  the  Kentucky 
wilderness,  Washington  was  surveying  ex- 
tensive tracts  along  the  Ohio  and  the  Great 
Kanawha,  and  planning  for  a  large  colony 

88 


Predecessors  and  Contemporaries 

upon  his  own  lands.  The  outbreak  of  the 
Revolution  caused  the  great  man  to  turn  his 
attention  from  the  over-mountain  region  to 
the  defense  of  his  country.  Had  he  been  left 
to  carry  out  his  plans,  he  would  doubtless 
have  won  fame  as  the  most  energetic  of 
.Western  pioneers. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  when  Boone 
and  his  companions  passed  through  Cumber- 
land Gap  in  the  early  summer  of  1769,  they 
found  the  well-worn  trail  of  other  hunters 
who  had  preceded  them  from  the  settlements. 
The  men  of  the  Yadkin  Valley  were  not  the 
only  persons  seeking  game  in  Kentucky  that 
year.  At  about  the  time  when  Boone  was 
bidding  farewell  to  his  family,  Hancock 
and  Richard  Taylor,  Abraham  Hempinstall, 
and  one  Barbour,  frontiersmen  of  the  same 
type,  started  from  their  homes  in  Orange 
County,  Va.,  to  explore  the  valleys  of  the 
Ohio  and  Mississippi.  They  descended  from 
Pittsburg  in  a  boat,  explored  Kentucky,  and 
proceeded  into  Arkansas,  where  they  camped 
and  hunted  during  the  following  winter. 
The  next  year  two  of  them  traveled  eastward 
to  Florida,  and  thence  northwardly  to  their 
89 


Daniel  Boone 

homes;  the  others  stayed  in  Arkansas  for 
another  year,  and  returned  by  sea  from  New 
Orleans  to  New  York. 

Simultaneously  with  the  expeditions  of 
Boone  and  the  Taylors,  a  party  of  twenty  or 
more  adventurous  hunters  and  explorers  was 
formed  in  the  New  River  region,  in  the  Val- 
ley of  Virginia.  They  set  out  in  June 
(1769),  piloted  by  Uriah  Stone,  who  had  been 
in  Kentucky  three  years  before.  Entering 
by  way  of  the  now  familiar  Cumberland  Gap, 
these  men  had  experiences  quite  similar  to 
those  of  Boone  and  his  comrades.  At  some 
of  the  Kentucky  salt-licks  they  found  herds 
of  buffaloes  numbering  up  in  the  thousands 
— at  one  lick  a  hundred  acres  were  densely 
massed  with  these  bulky  animals,  who  ex- 
hibited no  fear  until  the  wind  blew  from  the 
hunters  toward  them,  and  then  they  would 
"  dash  wildly  away  in  large  droves  and  dis- 
appear." Like  Boone's  party,  they  also  were 
the  victims  of  Cherokees,  who  plundered 
their  camps,  and  after  leaving  them  some 
guns  and  a  little  ammunition,  ordered  them 
out  of  the  country.  The  New  Eiver  party 
being  large,  however,  some  of  their  number 
90 


Predecessors  and  Contemporaries 

were  deputed  to  go  to  the  settlements  and 
bring  back  fresh  supplies,  so  that  they  could 
finish  their  hunt.  After  further  adventures 
with  Indians  half  of  the  hunters  returned 
home;  while  the  others  wandered  into  Ten- 
nessee and  as  far  as  the  Ozark  Mountains, 
finally  reaching  New  River  through  Georgia 
and  the  Carolinas.  Another  Virginian, 
named  John  McCulloch,  who  courted  the 
perils  of  exploration,  was  in  Kentucky  in  the 
summer  of  1769  with  a  white  man-servant 
and  a  negro.  He  visited  the  site  of  Terre 
Haute,  Ind.,  and  went  by  canoe  to  Natchez 
and  New  Orleans,  and  at  length  reached 
Philadelphia  by  sea. 

But  the  most  famous  of  all  the  expedi- 
tions of  the  period  was  that  of  the  "Long 
Hunters,"  as  they  have  come  to  be  known  in 
Western  history.  Inspired  by  the  favorable 
reports  of  Stone  and  others,  about  forty  of 
the  most  noted  and  successful  hunters  of 
New  River  and  Holston  Valleys  formed,  in 
the  summer  of  1770,  a  company  for  hunting 
and  trapping  to  the  west  of  Cumberland 
Mountains.  Under  the  leadership  of  two  of 
the  best  woodsmen  of  the  region,  Joseph 
91 


Daniel  Boone 

Drake  and  Henry  Skaggs,  and  including  sev- 
eral of  Stone's  party,  they  set  out  in  early 
autumn  fully  prepared  for  meeting  Indians 
and  living  on  game.  Each  man  took  with 
him  three  packhorses,  rifles,  ammunition, 
traps,  dogs,  blankets,  and  salt,  and  was 
dressed  in  the  deerskin  costume  of  the  times. 
Pushing  on  through  Cumberland  Gap,  the 
adventurers  were  soon  in  the  heart  of  Ken- 
tucky. In  accordance  with  custom,  they  vis- 
ited some  of  the  best  licks — a  few  of  which 
were  probably  first  seen  by  them — for  here 
wild  beasts  were  always  to  be  found  in  pro- 
fusion. At  Knob  Licks  they  beheld  from 
an  eminence  which  overlooked  the  springs 
"  what  they  estimated  at  largely  over  a  thou- 
sand animals,  including  buff  aloe,  elk,  bear, 
and  deer,  with  many  wild  turkies  scattered 
among  them — all  quite  restless,  some  playing, 
and  others  busily  employed  in  licking  the 
earth;  but  at  length  they  took  flight  and 
bounded  away  all  in  one  direction,  so  that  in 
the  brief  space  of  a  couple  of  minutes  not 
an  animal  was  to  be  seen."  Within  an  area 
of  many  acres,  the  animals  had  eaten  the 
salty  earth  to  a  depth  of  several  feet. 
92 


Predecessors  and  Contemporaries 

Successful  in  a  high  degree,  the  party 
ceased  operations  in  February,  and  had  com- 
pleted preparations  for  sending  a  large  ship- 
ment of  skins,  furs,  and  "  jerk  "  to  the  set- 
tlements, when,  in  their  temporary  absence, 
roving  Cherokees  robbed  them  of  much  of 
their  stores  and  spoiled  the  greater  part  of 
the  remainder.  "  Fifteen  hundred  skins 
gone  to  ruination ! "  was  the  legend  which 
one  of  them  carved  upon  the  bark  of  a  neigh- 
boring tree,  a  record  to  which  were  appended 
the  initials  of  each  member  of  the  party.  A 
series  of  disasters  followed,  in  the  course  of 
which  two  men  were  carried  off  by  Indians 
and  never  again  seen,  and  others  fled  for  home. 
Those  remaining,  having  still  much  ammu- 
nition and  the  horses,  continued  their  hunt, 
chiefly  upon  the  Green  and  Cumberland  Riv- 
ers, and  in  due  time  brought  together  an- 
other store  of  peltries,  almost  as  extensive  as 
that  despoiled  by  the  savages. 

Not  long  after  the  robbery,  when  the 
Long  Hunters  were  upon  Green  River,  one 
of  the  parties  into  which  the  band  was  di- 
vided were  going  into  camp  for  the  night, 
when  a  singular  noise  was  heard  proceeding 
93 


Daniel  Boone 

from  a  considerable  distance  in  the  forest. 
The  leader,  Caspar  Mausker,  commanded 
silence  on  the  part  of  his  comrades,  and  him- 
self crept  cautiously  from  tree  to  tree  in  the 
direction  of  the  sound.  Imagine  his  surprise 
and  amusement  to  find  "  a  man  bare-headed, 
stretched  flat  upon  his  back  on  a  deerskin 
spread  on  the  ground,  singing  merrily  at  the 
top  of  his  voice !  "  The  singer  was  our  hero, 
Daniel  Boone,  who,  regardless  of  possible 
Indian  neighbors,  was  thus  enjoying  himself 
while  awaiting  Squire's  belated  return  to 
camp.  Like  most  woodsmen  of  his  day  and 
ours,  Boone  was  fond  of  singing,  in  his  rude 
way,  as  well  as  of  relating  tales  of  stirring 
adventure.  In  such  manner  were  many 
hours  whiled  away  around  the  camp-fires  of 
wilderness  hunters. 

The  Boones  at  once  joined  and  spent  some 
time  with  the  Long  Hunters,  no  doubt  de- 
lighted at  this  opportunity  of  once  more 
mingling  with  men  of  their  kind.  Among 
their  amusements  was  that  of  naming  rivers, 
creeks,  and  hills  after  members  of  the  party ; 
many  of  these  names  are  still  preserved  upon 
the  map  of  Kentucky.  At  one  time  they  dis- 

94: 


Predecessors  and  Contemporaries 

covered  that  some  French  hunters  from  the 
Illinois  country  had  recently  visited  a  lick  to 
kill  buffaloes  for  their  tongues  and  tallow, 
which  they  had  loaded  into  a  keel-boat  and 
taken  down  the  Cumberland.  In  after  years 
one  of  the  Long  Hunters  declared  that  this 
wholesale  slaughter  was  so  great  "  that  one 
could  walk  for  several  hundred  yards  in  and 
around  the  lick  on  buffaloes'  skulls  and 
bones,  with  which  the  whole  flat  around  the 
lick  was  bleached." 

It  was  not  until  August  that  the  Long 
Hunters  returned  to  their  homes,  after  a 
profitable  absence  of  eleven  months.  But 
the  Boone  brothers  left  their  comrades  in 
March  and  headed  for  the  Yadkin,  with 
horses  now  well  laden  with  spoils  of  the 
chase.  They  were  deeply  in  debt  for  their 
latest  supplies,  but  were  returning  in  light 
heart,  cheered  with  the  prospect  of  settling 
their  accounts  and  being  able  to  revisit  Ken- 
tucky in  good  condition.  But  in  Powell's 
Valley,  near  Cumberland  Gap,  where  they 
might  well  have  supposed  that  small  chance 
of  danger  remained,  they  were  suddenly  set 
upon  by  a  war  party  of  Northern  Indians 
95 


Daniel  Boone 

who  had  been  raiding  the  white  settlers  as 
well  as  their  Southern  foes,  the  Cherokees 
and  Catawbas.  Roughly  handled  and  robbed 
of  their  packs,  the  unfortunate  hunters 
reached  the  Yadkin  in  no  happy  frame  of 
mind.  Daniel  had  been  absent  for  two  years, 
and  was  now  poorer  than  when  he  left  home. 
He  used  to  say,  however,  in  after  years,  that 
having  at  last  seen  Kentucky,  his  ideal  of 
an  earthly  paradise,  that  served  as  solace  for 
his  woes. 


96 


CHAPTER   VIH 

THE   HERO   OF   CLINCH  VALLEY 

WHILE  Daniel  Boone  had  been  hunting 
and  exploring  amid  the  deep  forests  and  wa- 
ving greenswards  of  Kentucky,  important 
events  had  been  taking  place  in  the  settle- 
ments. The  colonists  along  the  Atlantic  tide- 
water had  become  so  crowded  that  there  were 
no  longer  any  free  lands  in  that  region ;  and 
settlers'  cabins  in  the  western  uplands  of 
Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  the  Carolinas,  and 
Georgia  had  so  multiplied  that  now  much  of 
the  best  land  there  had  also  been  taken  up. 
The  far-outlying  frontier  upon  which  the 
Boones  and  Bryans  had  reared  their  rude 
log  huts  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  century  before, 
no  longer  abounded  in  game  and  in  free  pas- 
tures for  roving  herds;  indeed,  the  frontier 
was  now  pushed  forward  to  the  west-flowing 
streams — to  the  head  waters  of  the  Watauga, 
Clinch,  Powell,  French  Broad,  Holston,  and 
Nolichucky,  all  of  them  affluents  of  the  Ten- 
8  97 


Daniel  Boone 

nessee,  and  to  the  Monongahela  and  other 
tributaries  of  the  upper  Ohio. 

The  rising  tide  of  population  demanded 
more  room  to  the  westward.  The  forbidding 
mountain-ranges  had  long  hemmed  in  the 
restless  borderers;  but  the  dark-skinned 
wilderness  tribes  had  formed  a  still  more 
serious  barrier,  as,  with  rifles  and  toma- 
hawks purchased  from  white  traders,  they 
terrorized  the  slowly  advancing  outposts  of 
civilization.  With  the  French  government  no 
longer  in  control  of  Canada  and  the  region 
east  of  the  Mississippi — although  French- 
Canadian  woodsmen  were  freely  employed 
by  the  British  Indian  Department — with  the 
consequent  quieting  of  Indian  forays,  with 
increased  knowledge  of  the  over-mountain 
passes,  and  with  the  strong  push  of  popula- 
tion from  behind,  there  had  arisen  a  general 
desire  to  scale  the  hills,  and  beyond  them 
to  seek  exemption  from  tax-gatherers,  free 
lands,  and  the  abundant  game  concerning 
which  the  Kentucky  hunters  had  brought 
glowing  reports. 

Upon  the  defeat  of  the  French,  the  Eng- 
lish king  had  issued  a  proclamation  (1763) 
98 


The  Hero  of  Clinch  Valley 

forbidding  his  "  loving  subjects  "  to  settle  to 
the  west  of  the  mountains.  The  home  gov- 
ernment was  no  doubt  actuated  in  this  by 
two  motives:  first,  a  desire  to  preserve  the 
wilderness  for  the  benefit  of  the  growing  fur 
trade,  which  brought  wealth  to  many  London 
merchants;  second,  a  fear  that  borderers 
who  pushed  beyond  the  mountains  might  not 
only  be  beyond  the  reach  of  English  trade, 
but  also  beyond  English  political  control. 
But  the  frontiersmen  were  already  too  far 
distant  to  have  much  regard  for  royal  proc- 
lamations. The  king's  command  appears  to 
have  had  no  more  effect  than  had  he,  like 
one  of  his  predecessors,  bade  the  ocean  tide 
rise  no  higher. 

In  1768,  at  Fort  Stanwix,  N.  Y.,  the 
Iroquois  of  that  province,  whose  war  parties 
had  raided  much  of  the  country  between  the 
Hudson  and  the  Mississippi,  surrendered 
what  shadowy  rights  they  might  be  supposed 
to  have  over  all  lands  lying  between  the  Ohio 
and  the  Tennessee.  Meanwhile,  at  the  South, 
the  Cherokees  had  agreed  to  a  frontier  which 
opened  to  settlement  eastern  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee. 

99 


Daniel  Boone 

But,  without  waiting  for  these  treaties, 
numerous  schemes  had  been  proposed  in 
England  and  the  Atlantic  coast  colonies  for 
the  settlement  of  Kentucky  and  the  lands  of 
the  upper  Ohio.  Most  of  these  projects 
failed,  even  the  more  promising  of  them  be- 
ing checked  by  the  opening  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War ;  but  their  existence  showed  how 
general  was  the  desire  of  English  colonists 
to  occupy  those  fertile  Western  lands  which 
explorers  like  Gist,  Washington,  the  Boones, 
and  the  Long  Hunters  had  now  made  fa- 
miliar to  the  world.  The  new  treaties 
strengthened  this  desire,  so  that  when  Daniel 
and  Squire  Boone  reached  their  homes  upon 
the  Yadkin  the  subject  of  Western  settle- 
ment was  uppermost  in  the  minds  of  the 
people. 

The  land  excitement  was,  however,  less 
intense  in  North  Carolina  than  in  the  Valley 
of  Virginia  and  other  mountain  troughs  to 
the  north  and  northeast.  At  Boone's  home 
there  was  unrest  of  a  more  serious  character. 
The  tax-gatherers  were  arousing  great  popu- 
lar discontent  because  of  unlawful  and  ex- 
tortionate demands,  and  in  some  cases  Gov- 
100 


The  Hero  of  Clinch  Valley 

ernor  Tryon  had  come  to  blows  with  the 
regulators  who  stood  for  the  people's  rights. 

For  two  and  a  half  years  after  his  return 
Boone  quietly  conducted  his  little  farm,  and, 
as  of  old,  made  long  hunting  trips  in  autumn 
and  winter,  occasionally  venturing — some- 
times alone,  sometimes  with  one  or  two  com- 
panions— far  west  into  Kentucky,  once  visit- 
ing French  Lick,  on  the  Cumberland,  where 
he  found  several  French  hunters.  There  is 
reason  to  believe  that  in  1772  he  moved  to 
the  Watauga  Valley,  but  after  living  there 
for  a  time  went  back  to  the  Yadkin.  Early 
in  the  following  year  he  accompanied  Benja- 
min Cutbirth  and  others  as  far  as  the  pres- 
ent Jessamine  County,  Ky.,  and  from  this 
trip  returned  fired  with  quickened  zeal  for 
making  a  settlement  in  the  new  country. 

The  spring  and  summer  were  spent  in 
active  preparations.  He  enlisted  the  co- 
operation of  Captain  William  Russell,  the 
principal  pioneer  in  the  Clinch  Valley;  sev- 
eral of  the  Bryans,  whose  settlement  was 
now  sixty-five  miles  distant,  also  agreed  to 
join  him;  and  five  other  families  in  his  own 
neighborhood  engaged  to  join  the  expedition. 
101 


Daniel  Boone 

The  Bryan  party,  numbering  forty  men, 
some  of  them  from  the  Valley  of  Virginia 
and  Powell's  Valley,  were  not  to  be  accom- 
panied by  their  families,  as  they  preferred 
to  go  in  advance  and  prepare  homes  before 
making  a  final  move.  But  Boone  and  the 
other  men  of  the  upper  Yadkin  took  with 
them  their  wives  and  children;  most  of 
them  sold  their  farms,  as  did  Boone,  thus 
burning  their  bridges  behind  them.  Arrang- 
ing to  meet  the  Bryan  contingent  in  Powell's 
Valley,  Boone's  party  left  for  the  West  upon 
the  twenty-fifth  of  September,  1773— fifty- 
six  years  after  old  George  Boone  had  de- 
parted from  England  for  the  Pennsylvania 
frontier  near  Philadelphia,  and  twenty-three 
after  the  family  had  set  out  for  the  new 
southwest  frontier  on  the  Yadkin. 

Beaching  Powell's,  Boone  went  into  camp 
to  await  the  rear  party,  his  riding  and  pack- 
horses  hoppled  and  belled,  after  the  custom 
of  such  caravans,  and  their  small  herd  of 
cattle  properly  guarded  in  a  meadow.  His 
eldest  son,  James,  now  a  boy  of  sixteen 
years,  was  sent  with  two  men,  with  pack- 
animals,  across  country  to  notify  Russell  and 
102 


The  Hero  of  Clinch  Valley 

to  secure  some  flour  and  farming  tools. 
They  were  returning  laden,  in  company  with 
Russell's  son  Henry,  a  year  older  than 
James,  two  of  Russell's  negro  slaves,  and 
two  or  three  white  workpeople,  when,  miss- 
ing their  path,  they  went  into  camp  for  the 
night  only  three  miles  from  Boone's  quarters. 
At  daybreak  they  were  attacked  by  a  Shaw- 
nese  war  party  and  all  killed  except  a  white 
laborer  and  a  negro.  This  pathetic  tragedy 
created  such  consternation  among  the  mov- 
ers that,  despite  Boone's  entreaties  to  go  fof- 
ward,  all  of  them  returned  to  Virginia  and 
Carolina.  Daniel  and  his  family,  no  longer 
having  a  home  on  the  Yadkin,  would  not  re- 
treat, and  took  up  their  quarters  in  an  empty 
cabin  upon  the  farm  of  Captain  David  Gass, 
seven  or  eight  miles  from  Russell's,  upon 
Clinch  River.  Throughout  this  sorrowful 
winter  the  Boones  were  supported  from  their 
stock  of  cattle  and  by  means  of  Daniel's  un- 
erring rifle. 

It  was  long  before  the  intrepid  pioneers 

could   again  take  up  their  line   of  march. 

Ever  since  the  Bouquet  treaty  of  1764  there 

had  been  more  or  less  disturbance  upon  the 

103 


Daniel  Boone 

frontiers.  During  all  these  years,  although 
there  was  no  open  warfare  between  whites 
and  reds,  many  scores  of  lives  had  been  lost. 
Indians  had  wantonly  plundered  and  mur- 
dered white  men,  and  the  latter  had  been 
quite  as  merciless  toward  the  savages. 
Whenever  a  member  of  one  race  met  a  man 
of  the  other  the  rifle  was  apt  to  be  at  once 
brought  into  play.  Meanwhile,  armed  par- 
ties of  surveyors  and  land  speculators  were 
swarming  into  Kentucky,  notching  the  trees 
for  landmarks,  and  giving  evidence  to  ap- 
prehensive tribesmen  that  the  hordes  of  civ- 
ilization were  upon  them.  In  1773  George 
Rogers  Clark,  afterward  the  most  famous  of 
border  leaders,  had  staked  a  claim  at  the 
mouth  of  Fishing  Creek,  on  the  Ohio ;  Wash- 
ington had,  this  summer,  descended  the  river 
to  the  same  point;  while  at  the  Falls  of  the 
Ohio,  and  upon  interior  waters  of  the  Ken- 
tucky wilderness,  other  parties  were  laying 
ambitious  plans  for  the  capitals  of  new  colo- 
nies. 

In  the  following  spring  the  Cherokees  and 
Shawnese,  now  wrought  to  a  high  pitch  of  ill 
temper,  combined  for  onslaughts  on  the  ad- 
104 


The  Hero  of  Clinch  Valley 

vancing  frontiersmen.  The  wanton  murder 
by  border  ruffians  of  Chief  John  Logan's 
family,  near  Mingo  Junction,  on  the  Ohio, 
was  the  match  which,  in  early  summer,  fired 
the  tinder.  The  Mingos,  ablaze  with  the  fire 
of  vengeance,  carried  the  war-pipe  through 
the  neighboring  villages;  runners  were  sent 
in  every  direction  to  rouse  the  tribes ;  toma- 
hawks were  unearthed,  war-posts  were  plant- 
ed; messages  of  defiance  were  sent  to  the 
"  Virginians,"  as  all  frontiersmen  were  gen- 
erally called  by  the  Western  Indians ;  and  in 
a  few  days  the  border  war  to  which  history 
has  given  the  name  of  Lord  Dunmore,  then 
governor  of  Virginia,  was  in  full  swing  from 
Cumberland  Gap  to  Fort  Pitt,  from  the  Alle- 
ghanies  to  the  Wabash. 

Its  isolation  at  first  protected  the  Valley 
of  the  Clinch.  The  commandant  of  the 
southwest  militia — which  comprised  every 
boy  or  man  capable  of  bearing  arms — was 
Colonel  William  Preston;  under  him  was 
Major  Arthur  Campbell;  the  principal  man 
in  the  Clinch  Valley  was  Boone's  friend, 
Russell.  When,  in  June,  the  border  captains 
were  notified  by  Lord  Dunmore  that  the  war 
105 


Daniel  Boone 

was  now  on,  forts  were  erected  in  each  of  the 
mountain  valleys,  and  scouts  sent  out  along 
the  trails  and  streams  to  ascertain  the  where- 
abouts of  the  enemy. 

There  were  in  Kentucky,  at  this  time, 
several  surveying  parties  which  could  not 
obtain  news  by  way  of  the  Ohio  because  of 
the  blockade  maintained  by  the  Shawnese. 
It  became  necessary  to  notify  them  overland, 
and  advise  their  retreat  to  the  settlements 
by  way  of  Cumberland  Gap.  Eussell  having 
been  ordered  by  Preston  to  employ  "  two 
faithful  woodsmen  "  for  this  purpose,  chose 
Daniel  Boone  and  Michael  Stoner.  "  If  they 
are  alive,"  wrote  Russell  to  his  colonel,  "it 
is  indisputable  but  Boone  must  find  them." 
Leaving  the  Clinch  on  June  twenty-seventh, 
the  two  envoys  were  at  Harrodsburg  before 
July  eighth.  There  they  found  James  Har- 
rod  and  thirty-four  other  men  laying  off  a 
large  town,*  in  which  they  proposed  to  give 

*  Previous  to  this  there  had  been  built  in  Kentucky  many 
hunters'  camps,  also  a  few  isolated  cabins  by  "improvers"; 
but  Harrodsburg  (at  first  called  "  Harrodstown  ")  was  the  first 
permanent  settlement,  thus  having  nearly  a  year's  start  of 
Boonesborough.  June  16,  1774,  is  the  date  given  by  Collins 
and  other  chroniclers  for  the  actual  settlement  by  Harrod. 
106 


The  Hero  of  Clinch  Valley 

each  inhabitant  a  half-acre  in-lot  and  a  ten- 
acre  out-lot.  Boone,  who  had  small  capacity 
for  business,  but  in  land  was  something  of  a 
speculator,  registered  as  a  settler,  and  in 
company  with  a  neighbor  put  up  a  cabin  for 
his  future  occupancy.  This  done,  he  and 
Stoner  hurried  on  down  the  Kentucky  River 
to  its  mouth,  and  thence  to  the  Falls  of  the 
Ohio  (site  of  Louisville),  notifying  several 
bands  of  surveyors  and  town-builders  of 
their  danger.  After  an  absence  of  sixty-one 
days  they  were  back  again  upon  the  Clinch, 
having  traveled  eight  hundred  miles  through 
a  practically  unbroken  forest,  experienced 
many  dangers  from  Indians,  and  overcome 
natural  difficulties  almost  without  number. 

Meanwhile  Lord  Dunmore,  personally  un- 
popular but  an  energetic  and  competent  mili- 
tary manager,  had  sent  out  an  army  of  nearly 
three  thousand  backwoodsmen  against  the 
Shawnese  north  of  the  Ohio.  One  wing  of 
this  army,  led  by  the  governor  himself,  went 
by  way  of  Fort  Pitt  and  descended  the  Ohio ; 
among  its  members  was  George  Rogers  Clark. 
The  other  wing,  commanded  by  General  An- 
drew Lewis,  included  the  men  of  the  South- 
107 


Daniel  Boone 

west,  eleven  hundred  strong;  they  were 
to  descend  the  Great  Kanawha  and  rendez- 
vous with  the  northern  wing  at  Point  Pleas- 
ant, at  the  junction  of  the  Kanawha  and  the 
Ohio. 

When  Boone  arrived  upon  the  Clinch  he 
found  that  Russell  and  most  of  the  other  mili- 
tiamen of  the  district  had  departed  upon  the 
campaign.  With  a  party  of  recruits,  the 
great  hunter  started  out  to  overtake  the  ex- 
pedition, but  was  met  by  orders  to  return 
and  aid  in  defending  his  own  valley;  for  the 
drawing  off  of  the  militia  by  Dunmore  had 
left  the  southwest  frontiers  in  weak  condi- 
tion. During  September  the  settlers  upon 
the  Clinch  suffered  much  apprehension;  the 
depredations  of  the  tribesmen  were  not  nu- 
merous, but  several  men  were  either  wound- 
ed or  captured. 

In  a  letter  written  upon  the  sixth  of  Oc- 
tober, Major  Campbell  gives  a  list  of  forts 
upon  the  Clinch :  "  Blackmore's,  sixteen  men, 
Sergeant  Moore  commanding ;  Moore's,  twen- 
ty miles  above,  twenty  men,  Lieutenant 
Boone  commanding;  Russell's,  four  miles 
above,  twenty  men,  Sergeant  W.  Poage  com- 
108 


The  Hero  of  Clinch  Valley 

manding;  Glade  Hollow,  twelve  miles  above, 
fifteen  men,  Sergeant  John  Dunkin  com- 
manding; Elk  Garden,  fourteen  miles  above, 
eighteen  men,  Sergeant  John  Kinkead  com- 
manding ;  Maiden  Spring,  twenty-three  miles 
above,  five  men,  Sergeant  John  Crane  com- 
manding; Whitton's  Big  Crab  Orchard, 
twelve  miles  above,  three  men,  Ensign  John 
Campbell,  of  Rich  Valley,  commanding." 
During  this  month  Boone  and  his  little  garri- 
son made  frequent  sallies  against  the  enemy, 
and  now  and  then  fought  brief  but  desperate 
skirmishes.  He  appears  to  have  been  by  far 
the  most  active  commander  in  the  valley,  and 
when  neighboring  forts  were  attacked  his 
party  of  well-trained  riflemen  generally  fur- 
nished the  relief  necessary  to  raise  the  siege. 
"  Mr.  Boone,"  writes  Campbell  to  Preston, 
"is  very  diligent  at  Castle's-woods,  and 
keeps  up  good  order."  His  conduct  is  fre- 
quently alluded  to  in  the  military  correspond- 
ence of  that  summer;  Campbell  and  other 
leaders  exhibited  in  their  references  to  our 
hero  a  respectful  and  even  deferential  tone. 
An  eye-witness  of  some  of  these  stirring 
scenes  has  left  us  a  description  of  Daniel 
109 


Daniel  Boone 

Boone,  now  forty  years  of  age,  in  which  it  is 
stated  that  his  was  then  a  familiar  figure 
throughout  the  valley  as  he  hurried  to  and 
fro  upon  his  military  duties  "  dressed  in 
deerskin  colored  black,  and  his  hair  plaited 
and  clubbed  up." 

Upon  the  tenth  of  October,  Cornstalk,  a 
famous  Shawnese  chief,  taking  advantage  of 
Dunmore's  failure  to  join  the  southern  wing, 
led  against  Lewis's  little  army  encamped  at 
Point  Pleasant  a  thousand  picked  warriors 
gathered  from  all  parts  of  the  Northwest. 
Here,  upon  the  wooded  eminence  at  the  junc- 
tion of  the  two  rivers,  was  waged  from  dawn 
until  dusk  one  of  the  most  bloody  and  stub- 
born hand-to-hand  battles  ever  fought  be- 
tween Indians  and  whites.  It  is  hard  to  say 
who  displayed  the  best  generalship,  Corn- 
stalk or  Lewis.  The  American  savage  was  a 
splendid  fighter ;  although  weak  in  discipline 
he  could  competently  plan  a  battle.  The  tac- 
tics of  surprise  were  his  chief  resource,  and 
these  are  legitimate  even  in  civilized  war- 
fare; but  he  could  also  make  a  determined 
contest  in  the  open,  and  when,  as  at  Point 
Pleasant,  the  opposing  numbers  were  nearly 
110 


The  Hero  of  Clinch  Valley 

equal,  the  result  was  often  slow  of  determina- 
tion. Desperately  courageous,  pertinacious, 
with  a  natural  aptitude  for  war  combined 
with  consummate  treachery,  cruelty,  and  cun- 
ning, it  is  small  wonder  that  the  Indian  long 
offered  a  formidable  barrier  to  the  advance 
of  civilization.  In  early  Virginia,  John 
Smith  noticed  that  in  Indian  warfare  the 
whites  won  at  the  expense  of  losses  far  be- 
yond those  suffered  by  the  tribesmen;  and 
here  at  Point  Pleasant,  while  the  "  Long 
Knives "  *  gained  the  day,  the  number  of 
their  dead  and  wounded  was  double  that  of 
the  casualties  sustained  by  Cornstalk's  paint- 
ed band. 


*  The  Indians  had  called  the  Americans  "  Knifemen," 
"Long  Knives,"  or  "Big  Knives,"  from  the  earliest  historic 
times ;  but  it  was  not  until  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century  that  the  Virginia  colonists  began  to  make  record  of 
the  use  of  this  epithet  by  the  Indians  with  whom  they  came 
in  contact.  It  was  then  commonly  supposed  that  it  grew  out 
of  the  use  of  swords  by  the  frontier  militiamen,  and  this  is  the 
meaning  still  given  in  dictionaries;  but  it  has  been  made  ap- 
parent by  Albert  Matthews,  writing  in  the  New  York  Nation, 
March  14,  1901,  that  the  epithet  originated  in  the  fact  that 
Englishmen  used  knives  as  distinguished  from  the  early  stone 
tools  of  the  Indians.  The  French  introduced  knives  into 
America  previous  to  the  English,  but  apparently  the  term  was 
used  only  by  Indians  within  the  English  sphere  of  influence. 
Ill 


Daniel  Boone 

The  victory  at  Point  Pleasant  practically 
closed  the  war  upon  the  border.  Boone  had 
been  made  a  captain  in  response  to  a  popular 
petition  that  the  hero  of  Clinch  Valley  be 
thus  honored,  and  was  given  charge  of  the 
three  lower  forts;  but  there  followed  only 
a  few  alarms,  and  upon  the  twentieth  of 
November  he  and  his  brother  militiamen  of 
the  region  received  their  discharge.  The 
war  had  cost  Virginia  £10,000  sterling,  many 
valuable  lives  had  been  sacrificed,  and  an  in- 
calculable amount  of  suffering  and  privation 
had  been  occasioned  all  along  the  three  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  of  American  frontier. 
But  the  Shawnese  had  been  humbled,  the 
Cherokees  had  retired  behind  the  new  border 
line,  and  a  lasting  peace  appeared  to  be 
assured. 

In  the  following  January  Captain  Boone, 
true  son  of  the  wilderness,  was  celebrating 
his  freedom  from  duties  incident  to  war's 
alarms  by  a  solitary  hunt  upon  the  banks  of 
Kentucky  River. 


112 


CHAPTER   IX 

THE   SETTLEMENT  OF   KENTUCKY 

KENTUCKY  had  so  long  been  spasmodic- 
ally occupied  and  battled  over  by  Shawnese, 
Iroquois,  and  Cherokees,  that  it  can  not  be 
said  that  any  of  them  had  well-defined  rights 
over  its  soil.  Not  until  white  men  appeared 
anxious  to  settle  there  did  the  tribes  begin 
to  assert  their  respective  claims,  in  the  hope 
of  gaining  presents  at  the  treaties  whereat 
they  were  asked  to  make  cessions.  The 
whites,  on  their  part,  when  negotiating  for 
purchases,  were  well  aware  of  the  shadowy 
character  of  these  claims;  but,  when  armed 
with  a  signed  deed  of  cession,  they  had  some- 
thing tangible  upon  which  thenceforth  to 
base  their  own  claims  of  proprietorship. 
There  was  therefore  much  insincerity  upon 
both  sides.  It  is  well  to  understand  this  situ- 
ation in  studying  the  history  of  Kentucky 
settlement. 

Colonel  Richard  Henderson  was  one  of  the 
9  113 


Daniel  Boone 

principal  judges  in  North  Carolina,  a  schol- 
arly, talented  man,  eminent  in  the  legal  pro- 
fession; although  but  thirty-nine  years  of 
age,  he  wielded  much  influence.  Knowing 
and  respecting  Daniel  Boone,  Henderson  was 
much  impressed  by  the  former's  enthusiastic 
reports  concerning  the  soil,  climate,  and 
scenery  of  Kentucky ;  and,  acting  solely  upon 
this  information,  resolved  to  establish  a  col- 
ony in  that  attractive  country.  He  associ- 
ated with  himself  three  brothers,  Nathaniel, 
David,  and  Thomas  Hart,  the  last-named  of 
whom  in  later  life  wrote  that  he  "  had  known 
Boone  of  old,  when  poverty  and  distress  held 
him  fast  by  the  hand ;  and  in  those  wretched 
circumstances  he  had  ever  found  him  a  noble 
and  generous  soul,  despising  everything 
mean."  Their  proposed  colony  was  styled 
Transylvania,  and  the  association  of  proprie- 
tors the  Transylvania  Company. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  in  the  treaty 
of  Fort  Stanwix  (1768)  the  Iroquois  of  New 
York  had  ceded  to  the  English  crown  their 
pretensions  to  lands  lying  between  the  Ohio 
and  the  Tennessee.  The  Transylvania  Com- 
pany, however,  applied  to  the  Cherokees,  be- 


The  Settlement  of  Kentucky 

cause  this  was  the  tribe  commanding  the  path 
from  Virginia  and  the  Carolinas  to  Kentucky. 
In  March,  1775,  a  great  council  was  held  at 
Sycamore  Shoals,  on  the  Watauga  Eiver,  be- 
tween the  company  and  twelve  hundred 
Cherokees  who  had  been  brought  in  for  the 
purpose  by  Boone.  For  $50,000  worth  of 
cloths,  clothing,  utensils,  ornaments,  and  fire- 
arms, the  Indians  ceded  to  Henderson  and 
his  partners  an  immense  grant  including  all 
the  country  lying  between  the  Kentucky  and 
Cumberland  Rivers,  also  a  path  of  approach 
from  the  east,  through  Powell's  Valley.  At 
this  council  were  some  of  the  most  prominent 
Cherokee  chiefs  and  southwestern  frontiers- 
men. 

When  the  goods  came  to  be  distributed 
among  the  Indians  it  was  found  that,  al- 
though they  filled  a  large  cabin  and  looked 
very  tempting  in  bulk,  there  was  but  little 
for  each  warrior,  and  great  dissatisfaction 
arose.  One  Cherokee,  whose  portion  was  a 
shirt,  declared  that  in  one  day,  upon  this 
land,  he  could  have  killed  deer  enough  to 
buy  such  a  garment;  to  surrender  his  hunt- 
ing-ground for  this  trifle  naturally  seemed 
115 


Daniel  Boone 

to  him  a  bad  bargain.  For  the  safety  of  the 
pioneers  the  chiefs  could  give  no  guarantee ; 
they  warned  Boone,  who  appears  to  have 
acted  as  spokesman  for  the  company,  that 
"  a  black  cloud  hung  over  this  land,"  war- 
paths crossed  it  from  north  to  south,  and 
settlers  would  surely  get  killed;  for  such  re- 
sults the  Cherokees  must  not  be  held  re- 
sponsible. 

This  was  not  promising.  Neither  was 
the  news,  now  received,  that  Governors 
Martin  of  North  Carolina,  and  Dunmore 
of  Virginia  had  both  of  them  issued  proc- 
lamations against  the  great  purchase.  The 
former  had  called  Henderson  and  his  part- 
ners an  "infamous  Company  of  Land 
Pyrates  " ;  and  they  were  notified  that  this 
movement  was  in  violation  of  the  king's 
proclamation  of  1763,  forbidding  Western 
settlements. 

The  company,  relying  upon  popular  sym- 
pathy and  their  great  distance  from  tide- 
water seats  of  government,  proceeded  with- 
out regard  to  these  proclamations.  Boone, 
at  the  head  of  a  party  of  about  thirty  en- 
listed men,  some  of  them  the  best  backwoods- 
116 


The  Settlement  of  Kentucky 

men  in  the  country,*  was  sent  ahead  to  mark 
a  path  through  the  forest  to  Kentucky  River, 
and  there  establish  a  capital  for  the  new 
colony.  They  encountered  many  difficulties, 
especially  when  traveling  through  cane- 
brakes  and  brush;  and  once,  while  asleep, 
were  attacked  by  Indians,  who  killed  a  negro 
servant  and  wounded  two  of  the  party. 
Boone  won  hearty  commendation  for  his  skill 
and  courage  throughout  the  expedition, 
which  finally  arrived  at  its  destination  on  the 
sixth  of  April.  This  was  Big  Lick,  on  Ken- 
tucky River,  just  below  the  mouth  of  Otter 
Creek.  Here  it  was  decided  to  build  a  town 


*  The  names  of  this  party  of  Kentucky  pioneers,  as  pre- 
served by  tradition,  are  worth  presenting  in  our  record,  for 
many  of  them  afterward  became  prominent  in  the  annals  of 
the  West:  Squire  Boone,  Edward  Bradley,  James  Bridges, 
William  Bush,  Samuel  Coburn,  Colonel  Richard  Galloway, 
Captain  Crabtree,  Benjamin  Ctitbirth,  David  Gass,  John  Hart, 
William  Hays  (son-in-law  of  Daniel  Boone),  William  Hicks, 
Edmund  Jennings,  Thomas  Johnson,  John  Kennedy,  John 
King,  William  Miller,  William  Moore,  James  Nail,  James 
Peeke,  Bartlet  Searcy,  Reuben  Searcy,  Michael  Stoner,  Sam- 
uel Tate,  Oswell  Towns,  Captain  William  Twitty  (wounded  at 
Rockcastle),  John  Vardeman,  and  Felix  Walker  (also  wounded 
at  Rockcastle).  Mrs.  Hays,  Boone's  daughter,  traveled  with 
her  husband;  a  negro  woman  accompanied  Galloway,  and  a 
negro  man  (killed  at  Rockcastle)  was  with  Twitty. 

117 


Daniel  Boone 

to  be  called  Boonesborough,  to  serve  as  the 
capital  of  Transylvania.  The  site  was  "  a 
plain  on  the  south  side  of  the  river,  wherein 
was  a  lick  with  sulphur  springs  strongly  im- 
pregnated." 

To  Felix  Walker,  one  of  the  pioneers,  we 
are  indebted  for  the  details  of  this  notable 
colonizing  expedition,  set  forth  in  a  narra- 
tive which  is  still  preserved.  "  On  entering 
the  plain,"  he  writes,  "  we  were  permitted  to 
view  a  very  interesting  and  romantic  sight. 
A  number  of  buffaloes,  of  all  sizes,  supposed 
to  be  between  two  and  three  hundred,  made 
off  from  the  lick  in  every  direction:  some 
running,  some  walking,  others  loping  slowly 
and  carelessly,  with  young  calves  playing, 
skipping,  and  bounding  through  the  plain. 
Such  a  sight  some  of  us  never  saw  before, 
nor  perhaps  ever  may  again."  A  fort  was 
commenced,  and  a  few  cabins  "  strung  along 
the  river-bank ; "  but  it  was  long  before  the 
stronghold  was  completed,  for,  now  that  the 
journey  was  at  an  end,  Boone's  men  had  be- 
come callous  to  danger. 

Meanwhile  Henderson  was  proceeding 
slowly  from  the  settlements  with  thirty  men 
118 


The  Settlement  of  Kentucky 

and  several  wagons  loaded  with  goods  and 
tools.  Delayed  from  many  causes,  they  at 
last  felt  obliged  to  leave  the  encumbering 
wagons  in  Powell's  Valley.  Pushing  for- 
ward, they  were  almost  daily  met  by  par- 
ties of  men  and  boys  returning  home  from 
Kentucky  bearing  vague  reports  of  Indian 
forays.  This  resulted  in  Henderson  losing 
many  of  his  own  followers  from  desertion. 
Arriving  at  Boonesborough  on  the  twentieth 
of  April,  the  relief  party  was  "  saluted  by  a 
running  fire  of  about  twenty-five  guns." 
Some  of  Boone's  men  had,  in  the  general 
uneasiness,  also  deserted,  and  others  had 
scattered  throughout  the  woods,  hunting, 
exploring,  or  surveying  on  their  own  account. 
The  method  of  surveying  then  in  vogue 
upon  the  Western  frontier  was  of  the  cru- 
dest, although  it  must  be  acknowledged  that 
any  system  more  formal  might,  at  that  stage 
of  our  country's  growth,  have  prevented 
rapid  settlement.  Each  settler  or  land  specu- 
lator was  practically  his  own  surveyor.  With 
a  compass  and  a  chain,  a  few  hours'  work 
would  suffice  to  mark  the  boundaries  of  a 
thousand-acre  tract.  There  were  as  yet  no 
119 


Daniel  Boone 

adequate  maps  of  the  country,  and  claims 
overlapped  each  other  in  the  most  bewilder- 
ing manner.  A  speculator  who  "  ran  out " 
a  hundred  thousand  acres  might,  without 
knowing  it,  include  in  his  domain  a  half- 
dozen  claims  previously  surveyed  by  modest 
settlers  who  wanted  but  a  hundred  acres 
each.  A  man  who  paid  the  land-office  fees 
might  "  patent "  any  land  he  pleased  and 
have  it  recorded,  the  colony,  and  later  the 
State,  only  guaranteeing  such  entries  as  cov- 
ered land  not  already  patented.  This  over- 
lapping, conscious  or  unconscious,  at  last  be- 
came so  perplexing  that  thousands  of  vexa- 
tious lawsuits  followed,  some  of  which  are 
still  unsettled;  and  even  to-day  in  Kentucky 
there  are  lands  whose  ownership  is  actually 
unknown,  which  pay  no  taxes  and  support 
only  squatters  who  can  not  be  turned  out 
— possibly  some  of  it,  lying  between  patented 
tracts,  by  chance  has  never  been  entered  at 
all.  Nobody  can  now  say.  Thus  it  was 
that  we  find  our  friend  Daniel  Boone  quick- 
ly transformed  from  a  wilderness  hunter 
into  a  frontier  surveyor.  Before  Hender- 
son's arrival  he  had  laid  off  the  town  site 
120 


A  SURVEY  NOTE  BY  BOONE. 

Reduced  facsimile  from  his  field-books  in  possession  of  Wisconsin  State 
Historical  Society. 


The  Settlement  of  Kentucky 

into  lots  of  two  acres  each.  These  were  now 
drawn  at  a  public  lottery;  while  those  who 
wished  larger  tracts  within  the  neighborhood 
were  able  to  obtain  them  by  promising  to 
plant  a  crop  of  corn  and  pay  to  the  Transyl- 
vania Company  a  quit-rent  of  two  English 
shillings  for  each  hundred  acres. 

There  were  now  four  settlements  in  the 
Transylvania  grant:  Boonesborough ;  Har- 
rodsburg,  fifty  miles  west,  with  about  a  hun- 
dred men ;  Boiling  Spring,  some  six  or  seven 
miles  from  Harrodsburg;  and  St.  Asaph. 
The  crown  lands  to  the  north  and  east  of  the 
Kentucky,  obtained  by  the  Fort  Stanwix 
treaty,  contained  two  small  settlements; 
forty  miles  north  of  Boonesborough  was 
Hinkson's,  later  known  as  Ruddell's  Station, 
where  were  about  nineteen  persons;  lower 
down  the  Kentucky,  also  on  the  north  side, 
was  Willis  Lee's  settlement,  near  the  present 
Frankfort;  and  ranging  at  will  through  the 
crown  lands  were  several  small  parties  of 
"  land-jobbers,"  surveyors,  and  explorers, 
laying  off  the  claims  of  militia  officers  who 
had  fought  in  the  Indian  wars,  and  here  and 
there  building  cabins  to  indicate  possession. 
121 


Daniel  Boone 

Henderson  had  no  sooner  arrived  than 
he  prepared  for  a  convention,  at  which  the 
people  should  adopt  a  form  of  government 
for  the  colony  and  elect  officers.  This  was 
held  at  Boonesborough,  in  the  open  air,  under 
a  gigantic  elm,  during  the  week  commencing 
Tuesday,  the  twenty-third  of  May.  There 
were  eighteen  delegates,  representing  each  of 
the  four  settlements  south  of  the  Kentucky. 
Among  them  were  Daniel  and  Squire  Boone, 
the  former  of  whom  proposed  laws  for  the 
preservation  of  game  and  for  improving  the 
breed  of  horses ;  to  the  latter  fell  the  presen- 
tation of  rules  for  preserving  the  cattle- 
ranges.  The  compact  finally  agreed  upon 
between  the  colonists  and  the  proprietors 
declared  "  the  powers  of  the  one  and  the  lib- 
erties of  the  others,"  and  was  "  the  earliest 
form  of  government  in  the  region  west  of 
the  Alleghanies."  It  provided  for  "  perfect 
religious  freedom  and  general  toleration," 
militia  and  judicial  systems,  and  complete 
liberty  on  the  part  of  the  settlers  to  conduct 
colonial  affairs  according  to  their  needs. 
This  liberal  and  well-digested  plan  appeared 
to  please  both  Henderson  and  the  settlers. 
122 


The  Settlement  of  Kentucky 

But  the  opposition  of  the  governors,  the  ob- 
jections raised  by  the  Assembly  of  Virginia, 
of  which  Kentucky  was  then  a  part,*  and 
finally,  the  outbreak  of  the  Revolution,  which 
put  an  end  to  proprietary  governments  in 
America,  caused  the  downfall  of  the  Transyl- 
vania Company.  The  Boonesborough  leg- 
islative convention  met  but  once  more — in 
December,  to  elect  a  surveyor-general. 

The  May  meeting  had  no  sooner  ad- 
journed than  Transylvania  began  again  to 
lose  its  population.  Few  of  the  pioneers 
who  had  come  out  with  Boone  and  Hender- 
son, or  had  since  wandered  into  the  district, 
were  genuine  home-seekers.  Many  appear 
to  have  been  mere  adventurers,  out  for  the 
excitement  of  the  expedition  and  to  satisfy 
their  curiosity,  who  either  returned  home  or 
wandered  farther  into  the  woods  to  seek 
fresh  experiences  of  wild  life;  others  had 
deliberately  intended  first  to  stake  out  claims 
in  the  neighborhood  of  the  new  settlements 
and  then  return  home  to  look  after  their 

*  It  was  then  within  the  far-stretching  boundaries  of  Fin- 
castle  County.  Kentucky  was  set  apart  as  a  county,  Decem- 
ber 81,  1776. 

123 


Daniel  Boone 

crops,  and  perhaps  move  to  Kentucky  in  the 
autumn ;  others  there  were  who,  far  removed 
from  their  families,  proved  restless;  while 
many  became  uneasy  because  of  Indian  out- 
rages, reports  of  which  soon  began  to  be  circu- 
lated. Henderson  wrote  cheerful  letters  to 
his  partners  at  home,  describing  the  country 
as  a  paradise ;  but  by  the  end  of  June,  when 
Boone  returned  to  the  East  for  salt,  Har- 
rodsburg  and  Boiling  Spring  were  almost 
deserted,  while  Boonesborough  could  muster 
but  ten  or  twelve  "  guns,"  as  men  or  boys 
capable  of  fighting  Indians  were  called  in 
the  militia  rolls. 

The  infant  colony  of  Kentucky  had  cer- 
tainly reached  a  crisis  in  its  career.  Game 
was  rapidly  becoming  more  scarce,  largely 
because  of  careless,  inexperienced  hunters 
who  wounded  more  than  they  killed,  and 
killed  more  than  was  needed  for  food;  the 
frightened  buffaloes  had  now  receded  so  far 
west  that  they  were  several  days'  journey 
from  Boonesborough.  Yet  game  was  still  the 
staff  of  life.  Captain  Floyd,  the  surveyor- 
general,  wrote  to  Colonel  Preston :  "  I  must 
hunt  or  starve." 

124 


The  Settlement  of  Kentucky 

As  the  summer  wore  away  and  crops  in  the 
Eastern  settlements  were  gathered,  there  was 
a  considerable  increase  in  the  population. 
Many  men  who,  in  later  days,  were  to  exert 
a  powerful  influence  in  Kentucky  now  ar- 
rived— George  Rogers  Clark,  the  principal 
Western  hero  of  the  Revolution;  Simon 
Kenton,  famous  throughout  the  border  as 
hunter,  scout,  and  Indian  fighter;  Benjamin 
Logan,  William  Whitley,  the  Lewises,  Camp- 
bells, Christians,  Prestons,  MacDowells,  Mc- 
Afees, Hite,  Bowman,  Randolph,  Todd,  Mc- 
Clellan,  Benton,  Patterson — all  of  them 
names  familiar  in  Western  history. 

In  the  first  week  of  September  Boone  ar- 
rived with  his  wife  and  family  and  twenty 
young  men — "  twenty-one  guns,"  the  report 
reads;  Squire  and  his  family  soon  followed; 
four  Bryans,  their  brothers-in-law,  came  at 
the  head  of  thirty  men  from  the  Yadkin ;  and, 
at  the  same  time,  Harrodsburg  was  reached 
by  several  other  families  who  had,  like  the 
Boones,  come  on  horseback  through  Cumber- 
land Gap  and  Powell's  Valley.  This  power- 
ful reenforcement  of  pioneers,  most  of  whom 
proposed  to  stay,  had  largely  been  attracted 
125 


Daniel  Boone 

by  Henderson's  advertisements  in  Virginia 
newspapers  offering  terms  of  settlement  on 
Transylvania  lands.  "Any  person,"  said 
the  announcement,  "who  will  settle  on  and 
inhabit  the  same  before  the  first  day  of  June, 
1776,  shall  have  the  privilege  of  taking  up 
and  surveying  for  himself  five  hundred  acres, 
and  for  each  tithable  person  he  may  carry 
with  him  and  settle  there,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  acres,  on  the  payment  of  fifty  shillings 
sterling  per  hundred,  subject  to  a  yearly 
quit-rent  of  two  shillings,  like  money,  to  com- 
mence in  the  year  1780."  Toward  the  end 
of  November  Henderson  himself,  who  had 
gone  on  a  visit  to  Carolina,  returned  with 
forty  men,  one  of  whom  was  Colonel  Arthur 
Campbell,  a  prominent  settler  in  the  Holston 
Valley. 

This  increase  of  population,  which  had 
been  noticeable  throughout  the  autumn  and 
early  winter,  received  a  sudden  check,  how- 
ever, two  days  before  Christmas,  when  the 
Indians,  who  had  been  friendly  for  several 
months  past,  began  again  to  annoy  settlers, 
several  being  either  killed  or  carried  into 
captivity.  This  gave  rise  to  a  fresh  panic, 
126 


The  Settlement  of  Kentucky 

in  the  course  of  which  many  fled  to  the  east 
of  the  mountains. 

During  the  year  about  five  hundred  per- 
sons from  the  frontiers  of  Pennsylvania, 
Virginia,  and  North  Carolina  had  visited  and 
explored  Kentucky;  but  now,  at  the  close  of 
December,  the  population  of  all  the  settle- 
ments did  not  aggregate  over  two  hundred. 
The  recent  outbreak  had  much  to  do  with 
this  situation  of  affairs ;  but  there  were  other 
causes  conspiring  to  disturb  the  minds  of 
the  people  and  postpone  the  growth  of  set- 
tlement— the  clashing  of  interests  between 
the  Transylvania  Company  and  the  govern- 
ors of  Virginia  and  North  Carolina,  uncer- 
tainty as  to  the  possibilities  of  a  general  In- 
dian war,  the  threatened  rupture  between  the 
colonies  and  the  English  crown,  and  the 
alarming  scarcity  of  provisions  and  ammuni- 
tion throughout  Kentucky. 

Nevertheless,  over  nine  hundred  entries 
had  been  made  in  the  Transylvania  land- 
office  at  Boonesborough,  embracing  560,000 
acres,  and  most  of  these  tracts  were  waiting 
to  be  surveyed ;  two  hundred  and  thirty  acres 
of  corn  had  been  successfully  raised ;  horses, 
127 


Daniel  Boone 

hogs,  and  poultry  had  been  introduced,  and 
apple-  and  peach-trees  had  been  started  at 
several  settlements.  The  germ  of  a  colony 
was  firmly  planted,  laws  had  been  made, 
the  militia  had  been  organized,  civil  and  mili- 
tary officers  had  been  commissioned,  and  in 
the  face  of  several  slight  Indian  attacks  the 
savages  had  been  repelled  and  the  country 
maintained.  Most  promising  of  all,  there 
were  now  twelve  women  in  the  country,  all 
of  them  heads  of  families. 

The  principal  pioneers  were  nearly  all  of 
sturdy  Scotch-Irish  blood,  men  of  sterling 
merit,  intensely  devoted  to  the  cause  of 
American  liberty,  and  destined  to  contribute 
powerfully  to  its  aid  in  the  great  war  which 
had  now  begun,  and  concerning  which  mes- 
sengers from  over  the  mountains  had  during 
the  year  brought  them  scanty  information. 


128 


CHAPTER  X 

TWO  YEARS  OF  DARKNESS 

WITH  the  opening  of  the  year  1776  Daniel 
and  Squire  Boone  were  employed  for  several 
weeks  as  hunters  or  assistants  to  a  party  of 
surveyors  sent  by  the  Transylvania  Com- 
pany to  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  in  the  vicinity 
of  which  Henderson  and  his  friends  had 
taken  up  seventy  thousand  acres  of  land. 
They  met  no  Indians  and  saw  plenty  of 
game;  but  returned  to  find  that  the  settlers 
were  indignant  because  of  this  wholesale  pre- 
emption by  the  proprietors  of  the  colony  in 
a  neighborhood  where  it  was  now  felt  the 
chief  city  in  Kentucky  was  sure  to  be  planted. 
In  response  to  this  clamor  Henderson  prom- 
ised that  hereafter,  in  that  locality,  only 
small  tracts  should  be  granted  to  individuals, 
and  that  a  town  should  at  once  be  laid  out 
at  the  Falls ;  but  the  scanty  supply  of  powder 
and  provisions,  and  the  company's  growing 
10  129 


Daniel  Boone 

troubles  with  the  Virginia  Assembly,  pre- 
vented the  execution  of  this  project. 

In  the  spring  newcomers  everywhere  ap- 
peared. In  order  to  please  the  people  of 
Harrodsburg,  now  the  largest  settlement, 
who  were  disposed  to  be  critical,  the  com- 
pany's land-office  was  moved  thither,  and  it 
at  once  entered  upon  a  flourishing  business. 
Not  only  did  many  Virginians  and  Carolin- 
ians come  in  on  horseback  over  the  "  Wilder- 
ness Koad,"  as  the  route  through  Cumber- 
land Gap  was  now  styled,  but  hundreds  also 
descended  the  Ohio  in  boats  from  the  new 
settlements  on  the  Monongahela,  and  from 
those  farther  east  in  Pennsylvania. 

While  the  horsemen  of  the  Wilderness 
Eoad  generally  settled  in  Transylvania, 
those  journeying  by  boat  were  chiefly  inter- 
ested in  the  crown  lands  north  of  the  Ken- 
tucky; through  these  they  ranged  at  will, 
building  rude  pens,  half-faced  cabins,  and 
log  huts,  as  convenience  dictated,  and  plant- 
ing small  crops  of  corn  in  order  to  preempt 
their  claims.  The  majority,  however,  after 
making  sometimes  as  many  as  twenty  such 
claims  each,  often  upon  land  already  sur- 
130 


Two  Years  of  Darkness 

veyed  on  militia  officers'  warrants,  returned 
home  at  the  close  of  the  season,  seeking  to 
sell  their  fictitious  holdings  to  actual  settlers. 
Of  course  the  unscrupulous  conduct  of  these 
"  claim-jumping  "  speculators  led  to  numer- 
ous quarrels.  John  Todd,  of  Harrodsburg, 
wrote  to  a  friend :  "  I  am  afraid  to  lose  sight 
of  my  house  lest  some  invader  should  take 
possession." 

It  was  difficult,  even  for  those  who  came 
to  settle,  to  get  down  to  hard  work  during 
those  earliest  years.  Never  was  there  a 
more  beautiful  region  than  the  Kentucky 
wilderness.  Both  old  and  new  settlers  were 
fond  of  roaming  through  this  wonderland  of 
forests  and  glades  and  winding  rivers, 
where  the  nights  were  cool  and  refreshing 
and  the  days  filled  with  harmonies  of  sound 
and  sight  and  smell.  Hill  and  valley,  timber- 
land  and  thicket,  meadow  and  prairie,  grass- 
lands and  cane-brake — these  abounded  on 
every  hand,  in  happy  distribution  of  light 
and  shadow.  The  soil  was  extremely  fertile ; 
there  were  many  open  spots  fitted  for  im- 
mediate cultivation;  the  cattle-ranges  were 
of  the  best,  for  nowhere  was  cane  more 
131 


Daniel  Boone 

abundant;  game  was  more  plentiful  than 
men's  hopes  had  ever  before  conceived — of 
turkeys,  bears,  deer,  and  buffaloes  it  seemed, 
for  a  time,  as  if  the  supply  must  always  far 
excelled  any  possible  demand.  It  is  small 
wonder  that  the  imaginations  of  the  pioneers 
were  fired  with  dreams  of  the  future,  that 
they  saw  in  fancy  great  cities  springing  up 
in  this  new  world  of  the  West,  and  wealth 
pouring  into  the  laps  of  those  who  could  first 
obtain  a  foothold.  Thus,  in  that  beautiful 
spring  of  1776,  did  Kentuckians  revel  in  the 
pleasures  of  hope,  and  cast  to  the  winds  all 
thought  of  the  peril  and  toil  by  which  alone 
can  man  conquer  a  savage-haunted  wilder- 
ness. 

But  the  "  dark  cloud  "  foretold  at  the  Wa- 
tauga  treaty  soon  settled  upon  the  land.  In- 
cited by  British  agents — for  the  Revolution 
was  now  on — the  Cherokees  on  the  south  and 
the  Shawnese  and  Mingos  on  the  north  de- 
clared war  upon  the  American  borderers. 
The  Kentuckians  were  promptly  warned  by 
messengers  from  the  East.  The  "  cabiners," 
as  claim  speculators  were  called  by  actual 
settlers;  the  wandering  fur-traders,  most  of 
132 


Two  Years  of  Darkness 

whom  were  shabby  rascals,  whose  example 
corrupted  the  savages,  and  whose  conduct 
often  led  to  outbreaks  of  race  hostility;  and 
the  irresponsible  hunters,  who  were  reck- 
lessly killing  or  frightening  off  the  herds  of 
game — all  of  these  classes  began,  with  the 
mutterings  of  conflict,  to  draw  closer  to  the 
settlements ;  while  many  hurried  back  to  their 
old  homes,  carrying  exaggerated  reports  of 
the  situation. 

Meanwhile,  opposition  to  the  Transyl- 
vania proprietors  was  fast  developing.  The 
settlers  in  the  Harrodsburg  neighborhood 
held  a  convention  in  June  and  sent  Colonel 
George  Rogers  Clark  and  Captain  John  Ga- 
briel Jones  as  delegates  to  the  Virginia  Con- 
vention with  a  petition  to  that  body  to  make 
Kentucky  a  county  of  Virginia.  This  project 
was  bitterly  opposed  by  Henderson;  but 
upon  the  adoption  by  Congress,  in  July,  of 
the  Declaration  of  Independence,  there  was 
small  chance  left  for  the  recognition  of  any 
proprietary  government.  When  the  new 
Virginia  legislature  met  in  the  autumn,  the 
petition  of  the  "  inhabitants  of  Kentuckie  " 
was  granted,  and  a  county  government  or- 
133 


Daniel  Boonc 

ganized.*  David  Robinson  was  appointed 
county  lieutenant,  John  Bowman  colonel,  An- 
thony Bledsoe  and  George  Rogers  Clark  ma- 
jors, and  Daniel  Boone,  James  Harrod,  John 
,Todd,  and  Benjamin  Logan  captains. 

It  was  not  until  July  that  the  Kentuckians 
fully  realized  the  existence  of  an  Indian  war. 
During  that  month  several  hunters,  survey- 
ors, and  travelers  were  killed  in  various  parts 
of  the  district.  The  situation  promised  so 
badly  that  Colonel  William  Russell,  of  the 
Holston  Valley,  commandant  of  the  south- 
western Virginia  militia,  advised  the  immedi- 
ate abandonment  of  Kentucky.  Such  advice 
fell  upon  unheeding  ears  in  the  case  of  men 
like  Boone  and  his  companions,  although 
many  of  the  less  valorous  were  quick  to  re- 
tire beyond  the  mountains. 

On  Sunday,  the  seventeenth  of  July, 
an  incident  occurred  at  Boonesborough  which 
created  wide-spread  consternation.  Jemima, 
the  second  daughter  of  Daniel  Boone,  aged 
fourteen  years,  together  with  two  girl 

*  It  was,  however,  not  until  November,  1778,  that  the 
legislature  formally  declared  the  Transylvania  Company's 
claims  null  and  void. 

134 


Two  Years  of  Darkness 

friends,  Betsey  and  Fanny  Galloway,  sixteen 
and  fourteen  respectively,  were  paddling  in 
a  canoe  upon  the  Kentucky.  Losing  control 
of  their  craft  in  the  swift  current,  not  over 
a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  settlement,  they 
were  swept  near  the  north  bank,  when  five 
Shawnese  braves,  hiding  in  the  bushes,  wa- 
ded out  and  captured  them.  The  screams  of 
the  girls  alarmed  the  settlers,  who  sallied 
forth  in  hot  pursuit  of  the  kidnappers. 

The  mounted  men,  under  Colonel  Gallo- 
way, father  of  two  of  the  captives,  pushed 
forward  to  Lower  Blue  Licks,  hoping  to  cut 
off  the  Indians  as  they  crossed  the  Licking 
River  on  their  way  to  the  Shawnese  towns 
in  Ohio,  whither  it  was  correctly  supposed 
they  were  fleeing.  Boone  headed  the  foot- 
men, who  followed  closely  on  the  trail  of  the 
fugitives,  which  had  been  carefully  marked 
by  the  girls,  who,  with  the  self-possession 
of  true  borderers,  furtively  scattered  broken 
twigs  and  scraps  of  clothing  as  they  were 
hurried  along  through  the  forest  by  their 
grim  captors.  After  a  two  days'  chase, 
Boone's  party  caught  up  with  the  unsuspect- 
ing savages  some  thirty-five  miles  from 
135 


Daniel  Boone 

Boonesborough,  and  by  dint  of  a  skilful  dash 
recaptured  the  young  women,  unharmed. 
Two  of  the  Shawnese  were  killed  and  the 
others  fled  into  the  woods.  Galloway's 
horsemen  met  no  foe. 

Although  few  other  attacks  were  reported 
during  the  summer  or  autumn,  the  people 
were  in  a  continual  state  of  apprehension, 
neglected  their  crops,  and  either  huddled  in 
the  neighborhood  of  the  settlements,  or 
"  stations "  as  they  were  called,  or  aban- 
doned the  country  altogether.  In  the  midst 
of  this  uneasiness  Floyd  wrote  to  his  friend 
Preston,  in  Virginia,  urging  that  help  be  sent 
to  the  distressed  colony :  "  They  all  seem 
deaf  to  anything  we  can  say  to  dissuade 
them.  ...  I  think  more  than  three  hundred 
men  have  left  the  country  since  I  came  out, 
and  not  one  has  arrived,  except  a  few  cabiners 
down  the  Ohio.  I  want  to  return  as  much 
as  any  man  can  do ;  but  if  I  leave  the  coun- 
try now  there  is  scarcely  one  single  man 
who  will  not  follow  the  example.  When  I 
think  of  the  deplorable  condition  a  few 
helpless  families  are  likely  to  be  in,  I  con- 
clude to  sell  my  life  as  dearly  as  I  can  in 
136 


Two  Years  of  Darkness 

their  defense  rather  than  make  an  ignomin- 
ious escape." 

Seven  stations  had  now  been  abandoned 
— Huston's,  on  the  present  site  of  Paris; 
Hinkson's,  on  the  Licking;  Bryan's,  on  the 
Elkhorn;  Lee's,  on  the  Kentucky;  Harrod's, 
or  the  Boiling  Spring  settlement;  Whitley's, 
and  Logan's.  But  three  remained  occupied 
— McClellan's,  Harrodsburg,  and  Boonesbor- 
ough.  Up  to  this  time  none  of  the  Kentucky 
stations  had  been  fortified;  there  had  been 
some  unfinished  work  at  Boonesborough,  but 
it  was  soon  allowed  to  fall  into  decay.  Work 
was  now  resumed  at  all  three  of  the  occupied 
settlements ;  this  consisted  simply  of  connect- 
ing the  cabins,  which  faced  an  open  square, 
by  lines  of  palisades.  It  was  only  at  Mc- 
Clellan's, however,  that  even  this  slender 
protection  was  promptly  completed;  at 
Boonesborough  and  Harrodsburg  the  work, 
although  but  a  task  of  a  few  days,  dragged 
slowly,  and  was  not  finished  for  several 
months.  It  was  next  to  impossible  for  Boone 
and  the  other  militia  captains  to  induce  men 
to  labor  at  the  common  defenses  in  time  of 
peace. 

137 


Daniel  Boone 

Great  popular  interest  was  taken  by  the 
people  of  the  Carolinas,  Virginia,  and  Penn- 
sylvania in  the  fate  of  the  Kentucky  settle- 
ments, whither  so  many  prominent  borderers 
from  those  States  had  moved.  The  frantic 
appeals  for  help  sent  out  by  Floyd,  Logan, 
and  McGary,  and  expressed  in  person  by 
George  Eogers  Clark,  awakened  keen  sym- 
pathy; but  the  demands  of  Washington's 
army  were  now  so  great,  in  battles  for  national 
liberty  upon  the  Atlantic  coast,  that  little 
could  be  spared  for  the  Western  settlers. 
During  the  summer  a  small  supply  of  powder 
was  sent  out  by  Virginia  to  Captain  Boone; 
in  the  autumn  Harrod  and  Logan  rode  to 
the  Holston  and  obtained  from  the  military 
authorities  a  packhorse-load  of  lead;  and  in 
the  closing  days  of  the  year  Clark  arrived 
at  Limestone  (now  Maysville),  on  the  Ohio, 
with  a  boat-load  of  powder  and  other  stores, 
voted  to  the  service  of  Kentucky  by  the  Vir- 
ginia Assembly.  He  had  experienced  a  long 
and  exciting  voyage  from  Pittsburg  with  this 
precious  consignment,  and  about  thirty  of 
the  settlers  aided  him  in  the  perilous  enter- 
prise of  transporting  it  overland  to  the  sta- 
138 


Two  Years  of  Darkness 

tions  on  the  Kentucky.  While  the  ammuni- 
tion was  supposed  to  be  used  for  defense, 
the  greater  part  of  it  was  necessarily  spent 
in  obtaining  food.  Without  the  great  pro- 
fusion of  game  the  inhabitants  must  have 
starved ;  although  several  large  crops  of  corn 
were  raised,  and  some  wheat,  these  were  as 
yet  insufficient  for  all. 

Early  in  1777  Indian  "  signs  "  began  to 
multiply.  McClellan's  was  now  abandoned, 
leaving  Boonesborough  and  Harrodsburg 
the  only  settlements  maintained — except,  per- 
haps, Price's,  on  the  Cumberland,  although 
Logan's  Station  was  reoccupied  in  Febru- 
ary. The  number  of  men  now  in  the  coun- 
try fit  for  duty  did  not  exceed  a  hundred 
and  fifty.  In  March  the  fighting  men  met  at 
their  respective  stations  and  organized  under 
commissioned  officers;  hitherto  all  military 
operations  in  Kentucky  had  been  voluntary, 
headed  by  such  temporary  leaders  as  the 
men  chose  from  their  own  number. 

During  the  greater  part  of  the  year  the 

palisaded  stations  were  frequently  attacked 

by  the  savages — Shawnese,  Cherokees,  and 

Mingos,  in  turn  or  in  company.     Some  of 

139 


Daniel  Boone 

these  sieges  lasted  through  several  days, 
taxing  the  skill  and  bravery  of  the  inhabit- 
ants to  their  utmost.  Indian  methods  of  at- 
tacking forts  were  far  different  from  those 
that  would  be  practised  by  white  men.  Being 
practically  without  military  organization, 
each  warrior  acted  largely  on  his  own  behalf. 
His  object  was  to  secrete  himself,  to  kill  his 
enemy,  and  if  possible  to  bear  away  his  scalp 
as  a  trophy.  Every  species  of  cover  was 
taken  advantage  of — trees,  stumps,  bushes, 
hillocks,  stones,  furnished  hiding-places. 
Feints  were  made  to  draw  the  attention  of 
the  garrison  to  one  side,  while  the  main  body 
of  the  besiegers  hurled  themselves  against 
the  other.  Having  neither  artillery  nor  scal- 
ing-ladders, they  frequently  succeeded  in 
effecting  a  breach  by  setting  fire  to  the  walls. 
Pretending  to  retreat,  they  would  lull  the  de- 
fenders into  carelessness,  when  they  would 
again  appear  from  ambush,  picking  off  those 
who  came  out  for  water,  to  attend  to  crops 
and  cattle,  or  to  hunt  for  food ;  often  they  ex- 
hibited a  remarkable  spirit  of  daring,  espe- 
cially when  making  a  dash  to  secure  scalps. 
Destroying  crops,  cattle,  hogs,  and  poultry, 
140 


Two  Years  of  Darkness 

stealing  the  horses  for  their  own  use,  burning 
the  outlying  cabins,  and  guarding  the  trails 
against  possible  relief,  they  sought  to  reduce 
the  settlers  to  starvation,  and  thus  make 
them  an  easy  prey.  Every  artifice  known 
to  besiegers  was  skilfully  practised  by  these 
crafty,  keen-eyed,  quick-witted  wilderness 
fighters,  who  seldom  showed  mercy.  Only 
when  white  men  aggressively  fought  them 
in  their  own  manner  could  they  be  over- 
come. 

In  the  last  week  of  April,  while  Boone 
and  Kenton  were  heading  a  sortie  against  a 
party  of  Shawnese  besieging  Boonesborough, 
the  whites  stumbled  into  an  ambuscade,  and 
Boone  was  shot  in  an  ankle,  the  bone  being 
shattered.  Kenton,  with  that  cool  bravery 
for  which  this  tall,  vigorous  backwoodsman 
was  known  throughout  the  border,  rushed  up, 
and  killing  a  warrior  whose  tomahawk  was 
lifted  above  the  fallen  man,  picked  his  com- 
rade up  in  his  arms,  and  desperately  fought 
his  way  back  into  the  enclosure.  It  was  sev- 
eral months  before  the  captain  recovered 
from  this  painful  wound ;  but  from  his  room 
he  directed  many  a  day-and-night  defense, 
141 


Daniel  Boone 

and  laid  plans  for  the  scouting  expeditions 
which  were  frequently  undertaken  through- 
out the  region  in  order  to  discover  signs  of 
the  lurking  foe. 

Being  the  larger  settlement,  Harrodsburg 
was  more  often  attacked  than  Boonesbor- 
ough,  although  simultaneous  sieges  were 
sometimes  in  progress,  thus  preventing  the 
little  garrisons  from  helping  each  other.  At 
both  stations  the  women  soon  became  the 
equal  of  the  men,  fearlessly  taking  turns  at 
the  port-holes,  from  which  little  puffs  of 
white  smoke  would  follow  the  sharp  rifle- 
cracks  whenever  a  savage  head  revealed 
itself  from  behind  bush  or  tree.  When  not 
on  duty  as  marksmen,  women  were  melting 
their  pewter  plates  into  bullets,  loading  the 
rifles  and  handing  them  to  the  men,  caring 
for  the  wounded,  and  cooking  whatever  food 
might  be  obtainable.  During  a  siege  food 
was  gained  only  by  stealth  and  at  great 
peril.  Some  brave  volunteer  would  escape 
into  the  woods  by  night,  and  after  a  day  spent 
in  hunting,  far  away  from  hostile  camps,  re- 
turn, if  possible  under  cover  of  darkness, 
with  what  game  he  could  find.  It  was  a  time 
142 


Two  Years  of  Darkness 

to  make  heroes  or  cowards  of  either  men  or 
women — there  was  no  middle  course. 

Amid  this  spasmodic  hurly-burly  there 
was  no  lack  of  marrying  and  giving  in  mar- 
riage. One  day  in  early  August,  1776,  Bet- 
sey Galloway,  the  eldest  of  the  captive  girls, 
was  married  at  Boonesborough  to  Samuel 
Henderson,  one  of  the  rescuing  party — the 
first  wedding  in  Kentucky.  Daniel  Boone, 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  tied  the  knot.  A 
diarist  of  the  time  has  this  record  of  a  similar 
Harrodsburg  event :  "  July  9,  1777. — Lieu- 
tenant Linn  married — great  merriment." 

At  each  garrison,  whenever  not  under 
actual  siege,  half  of  the  men  were  acting  as 
guards  and  scouts  while  the  others  cultivated 
small  patches  of  corn  within  sight  of  the 
walls.  But  even  this  precaution  sometimes 
failed  of  its  purpose.  For  instance,  one  day 
in  May  two  hundred  Indians  suddenly  sur- 
rounded the  corn-field  at  Boonesborough, 
and  there  was  a  lively  skirmish  before  the 
planters  could  reach  the  fort. 

Thus  the  summer  wore  away.  In  August 
Colonel  Bowman  arrived  with  a  hundred 
militiamen  from  the  Virginia  frontier.  A 
143 


Daniel  Boone 

little  later  forty-eight  horsemen  came  from 
the  Yadkin  country  to  Boone's  relief,  making 
so  brave  a  display  as  they  emerged  from  the 
tangled  woods  and  in  open  order  filed 
through  the  gates  of  the  palisade,  that  some 
Shawnese  watching  the  procession  from  a 
neighboring  hill  fled  into  Ohio  with  the  start- 
ling report  that  two  hundred  Long  Knife 
warriors  had  arrived  from  Virginia.  In  Oc- 
tober other  Virginians  came,  to  the  extent 
of  a  hundred  expert  riflemen;  and  late  in 
the  autumn  the  valiant  Logan  brought  in 
from  the  Holston  as  much  powder  and  lead 
as  four  packhorses  could  carry,  guarded  by 
a  dozen  sharpshooters,  thus  insuring  a  better 
prospect  for  food. 

With  these  important  supplies  and  reen- 
f orcements  at  hand  the  settlers  were  inspired 
by  new  hope.  Instead  of  waiting  for  the 
savages  to  attack  them,  they  thenceforth 
went  in  search  of  the  savages,  killing  them 
wherever  seen,  thus  seeking  to  outgeneral 
the  enemy.  These  tactics  quite  disheartened 
the  astonished  tribesmen,  and  the  year  closed 
with  a  brighter  outlook  for  the  weary  Ken- 
tuckians.  It  had  been  a  time  of  constant 


Two  Years  of  Darkness 

anxiety  and  watchfulness.  The  settlers  were 
a  handful  in  comparison  with  their  vigilant 
enemies.  But  little  corn  had  been  raised; 
the  cattle  were  practically  gone;  few  horses 
were  now  left;  and  on  the  twelfth  of  De- 
cember Bowman  sent  word  to  Virginia  that 
he  had  only  two  months'  supply  of  bread 
for  two  hundred  women  and  children,  many 
of  whom  were  widows  and  orphans.  As  for 
clothing,  there  was  little  to  be  had,  although 
from  the  fiber  of  nettles  a  rude  cloth  was 
made,  and  deerskins  were  commonly  worn. 


145 


CHAPTER  XI 

THE   SIEGE  OF  BOONESBOROUGH 

WE  have  seen  that  Kentucky's  numerous 
salt-springs  lured  wild  animals  thither  in  as- 
tonishing numbers;  but  for  lack  of  suitable 
boiling-kettles  the  pioneers  were  at  first  de- 
pendent upon  the  older  settlements  for  the 
salt  needed  in  curing  their  meat.  The  In- 
dian outbreak  now  rendered  the  "Wilderness 
Eoad  an  uncertain  path,  and  the  Kentuckians 
were  beginning  to  suffer  from  lack  of  salt — 
a  serious  deprivation  for  a  people  largely 
dependent  upon  a  diet  of  game. 

Late  in  the  year  1777  the  Virginia  gov- 
ernment sent  out  several  large  salt-boiling 
kettles  for  the  use  of  the  Western  settlers. 
Both  residents  and  visiting  militiamen  were 
allotted  into  companies,  which  were  to  relieve 
each  other  at  salt-making  until  sufficient  was 
manufactured  to  last  the  several  stations  for 
a  year.  It  was  Boone's  duty  to  head  the  first 
party,  thirty  strong,  which,  with  the  kettles 
146 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

packed  on  horses,  went  to  Lower  Blue  Licks 
early  in  January.  A  month  passed,  during 
which  a  considerable  quantity  of  salt  was 
made;  several  horse-loads  had  been  sent  to 
Boonesborough,  but  most  of  it  was  still  at 
the  camp  awaiting  shipment. 

The  men  were  daily  expecting  relief  by 
the  second  company,  when  visitors  of  a  dif- 
ferent character  appeared.  While  half  of 
the  men  worked  at  the  boiling,  the  others 
engaged  in  the  double  service  of  watching 
for  Indians  and  obtaining  food ;  of  these  was 
Boone.  Toward  evening  of  the  seventh  of 
February  he  was  returning  home  from  a 
wide  circuit  with  his  packhorse  laden  with 
buffalo-meat  and  some  beaver-skins,  for  he 
had  many  traps  in  the  neighborhood.  A 
blinding  snow-storm  was  in  progress,  which 
caused  him  to  neglect  his  usual  precautions, 
when  suddenly  he  was  confronted  by  four 
burly  Shawnese,  who  sprang  from  an  am- 
bush. Keen  of  foot,  he  thought  to  outrun 
them,  but  soon  had  to  surrender,  for  they 
shot  so  accurately  that  it  was  evident  that 
they  could  kill  him  if  they  would. 

The  prisoner  was  conducted  to  the  Shaw- 
147 


Daniel  Boone 

nese  camp,  a  few  miles  distant.  There  lie 
found  a  hundred  and  twenty  warriors  under 
Chief  Black  Fish.  Two  Frenchmen,  in  Eng- 
lish employ,  were  of  the  party;  also  two 
American  renegades  from  the  Pittsburg  re- 
gion, James  and  George  Girty.  These  latter, 
with  their  brother  Simon,  had  joined  the  In- 
dians and,  dressed  and  painted  like  savages, 
were  assisting  the  tribesmen  of  the  North- 
west in  raids  against  their  fellow-borderers 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Virginia.  Boone  was 
well  known  by  reputation  to  all  these  men 
of  the  wilderness,  reds  and  whites  alike ;  in- 
deed, he  noticed  that  among  the  party  were 
his  captors  of  eight  years  before,  who 
laughed  heartily  at  again  having  him  in  their 
clutches. 

He  was  loudly  welcomed  to  camp,  the  In- 
dians shaking  his  hands,  patting  him  on  the 
back,  and  calling  him  "  brother  " — for  they 
always  greatly  enjoyed  such  exhibitions  of 
mock  civility  and  friendship — and  the  hunter 
himself  pretended  to  be  equally  pleased  at 
the  meeting.  They  told  him  that  they  were 
on  their  way  to  attack  Boonesborough,  and 
wished  him  to  lead  them,  but  insisted  that 
148 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

he  first  induce  his  fellow  salt-makers  to  sur- 
render. Boone  thoroughly  understood  In- 
dians; he  had  learned  the  arts  of  forest 
diplomacy,  and  although  generally  a  silent 
man  of  action,  appears  to  have  been  a  plaus- 
ible talker  when  dealing  with  red  men. 
Knowing  that  only  one  side  of  the  Boones- 
borough palisade  had  been  completed,  and 
that  the  war-party  was  five  times  as  strong 
as  the  population  of  the  hamlet,  he  thought 
to  delay  operations  by  strategy.  He  prom- 
ised to  persuade  the  salt-makers  to  surren- 
der, in  view  of  the  overwhelming  force  and 
the  promise  of  good  treatment,  and  to  go 
peacefully  with  their  captors  to  the  Shaw- 
nese  towns  north  of  the  Ohio ;  and  suggested 
that  in  the  spring,  when  the  weather  was 
warmer,  they  could  all  go  together  to 
Boonesborough,  and  by  means  of  horses  com- 
fortably remove  the  women  and  children. 
These  would,  under  his  persuasion,  Boone 
assured  his  captors,  be  content  to  move  to 
the  North,  and  thenceforth  either  lived  with 
the  Shawnese  as  their  adopted  children  or 
place  themselves  under  British  protection  at 
Detroit,  where  Governor  Hamilton  offered 
149 


Daniel  Boone 

£20  apiece  for  American  prisoners  delivered 
to  him  alive  and  well. 

The  proposition  appeared  reasonable  to 
the  Indians,  and  they  readily  agreed  to  it. 
What  would  be  the  outcome  Boone  could  not 
foretell.  He  realized,  however,  that  his  sta- 
tion was  unprepared,  that  delay  meant  every- 
thing, in  view  of  possible  reenforcements 
from  Virginia,  and  was  willing  that  he  and 
his  comrades  should  stand,  if  need  be,  as  a 
sacrifice — indeed,  no  other  course  seemed 
open.  Going  with  his  captors  to  the  salt 
camp,  his  convincing  words  caused  the  men 
to  stack  their  arms  and  accompany  the  sav- 
ages, hoping  thereby  at  least  to  save  their 
families  at  Boonesborough  from  immediate 
attack. 

The  captives  were  but  twenty-seven  in 
number,  some  of  the  hunters  not  having  re- 
turned to  camp.  Not  all  of  the  captors  were, 
despite  their  promise,  in  favor  of  lenient 
treatment  of  the  prisoners.  A  council  was 
held,  at  which  Black  Fish,  a  chieftain  of  fine 
qualities,  had  much  difficulty,  through  a  ses- 
sion of  two  hours,  in  securing  a  favorable 
verdict.  Boone  was  permitted  to  address 
150 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

the  savage  throng  in  explanation  of  his  plan, 
his  words  being  interpreted  by  a  negro 
named  Pompey,  a  fellow  of  some  conse- 
quence among  the  Shawnese.  The  vote  was 
close — fifty-nine  for  at  once  killing  the  pris- 
oners, except  Boone,  and  sixty-one  for 
mercy;  but  it  was  accepted  as  decisive,  and 
the  store  of  salt  being  destroyed,  and  ket- 
tles, guns,  axes,  and  other  plunder  packed  on 
horses,  the  march  northward  promptly  com- 
menced. 

Each  night  the  captives  were  made  fast 
and  closely  watched.  The  weather  was  un- 
usually severe;  there  was  much  suffering 
from  hunger,  for  the  snow  was  deep,  game 
scarce,  and  slippery-elm  bark  sometimes  the 
only  food  obtainable.  Descending  the  Lick- 
ing, the  band  crossed  the  Ohio  in  a  large  boat 
made  of  buffalo-hides,  which  were  stretched 
on  a  rude  frame  holding  twenty  persons; 
they  then  entered  the  trail  leading  to  the 
Shawnese  towns  on  the  Little  Miami,  where 
they  arrived  upon  the  tenth  day. 

The  prisoners  were  taken  to  the  chief 
town  of  the  Shawnese,  Little  Chillicothe, 
about  three  miles  north  of  the  present  Xenia, 
151 


Daniel  Boone 

Ohio.  There  was  great  popular  rejoicing, 
for  not  since  Braddock's  defeat  had  so  many 
prisoners  been  brought  into  Ohio.  Boone 
and  sixteen  of  his  companions,  presumably 
selected  for  their  good  qualities  and  their 
apparent  capacity  as  warriors,  were  now 
formally  adopted  into  the  tribe.  Boone  him- 
self had  the  good  fortune  to  be  accepted  as 
the  son  of  Black  Fish,  and  received  the  name 
Sheltowee  (Big  Turtle) — perhaps  because  he 
was  strong  and  compactly  built. 

Adoption  was  a  favorite  method  of  re- 
cruiting the  ranks  of  American  tribes.  The 
most  tractable  captives  were  often  taken  into 
the  families  of  the  captors  to  supply  the 
place  of  warriors  killed  in  battle.  They 
were  thereafter  treated  with  the  utmost  af- 
fection, apparently  no  difference  being  made 
between  them  and  actual  relatives,  save  that, 
until  it  was  believed  that  they  were  no  longer 
disposed  to  run  away,  they  were  watched 
with  care  to  prevent  escape.  Such  was  now 
Boone's  experience.  Black  Fish  and  his 
squaw  appeared  to  regard  their  new  son  with 
abundant  love,  and  everything  was  done  for 
his  comfort,  so  far  as  was  possible  in  an 
152 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

Indian  camp,  save  that  he  found  himself 
carefully  observed  by  day  and  night,  and 
flight  long  seemed  impracticable. 

Boone  was  a  shrewd  philosopher.  In  his 
so-called  "  autobiography "  written  by  Fil- 
son,  he  tells  us  that  the  food  and  lodging  were 
"  not  so  good  as  I  could  desire,  but  neces- 
sity made  everything  acceptable."  Such  as 
he  obtained  was,  however,  the  lot  of  all.  In 
the  crowded,  slightly  built  wigwams  it  was 
impossible  to  avoid  drafts;  they  were  filthy 
to  the  last  degree ;  when  in  the  home  villages, 
there  was  generally  an  abundance  of  food — 
corn,  hominy,  pumpkins,  beans,  and  game, 
sometimes  all  boiled  together  in  the  same  ket- 
tle— although  it  was  prepared  in  so  slovenly 
a  manner  as  to  disgust  even  so  hardy  a  man 
of  the  forest  as  our  hero ;  the  lack  of  privacy, 
the  ever-present  insects,  the  blinding  smoke 
of  the  lodge-fire,  the  continual  yelping  of 
dogs,  and  the  shrill,  querulous  tones  of  old 
women,  as  they  haggled  and  bickered  through 
the  livelong  day — all  these  and  many  other 
discomforts  were  intensely  irritating  to  most 
white  men.  In  order  to  disarm  suspicion, 
Boone  appeared  to  be  happy.  He  whistled 
153 


Daniel  Boone 

cheerfully  at  his  tasks,  learning  what  little 
there  was  left  for  him  to  learn  of  the  arts 
of  the  warrior,  sharing  his  game  with  his 
"  father,"  and  pretending  not  to  see  that  he 
was  being  watched.  At  the  frequent  shoot- 
ing-matches he  performed  just  well  enough  to 
win  the  applause  of  his  fellow  braves,  al- 
though, for  fear  of  arousing  jealousy,  careful 
not  to  outdo  the  best  of  them.  His  fellow 
prisoners,  less  tactful,  marveled  at  the  ease 
with  which  their  old  leader  adapted  himself 
to  the  new  life,  and  his  apparent  enjoyment 
of  it.  Yet  never  did  he  miss  an  opportunity 
to  ascertain  particulars  of  the  intended  attack 
on  Boonesborough,  and  secretly  planned  for 
escape  when  the  proper  moment  should  ar- 
rive. 

March  was  a  third  gone,  when  Black  Fish 
and  a  large  party  of  his  braves  and  squaws 
went  to  Detroit  to  secure  Governor  Hamil- 
ton's bounty  on  those  of  the  salt-makers  who, 
from  having  acted  in  an  ugly  manner,  had 
not  been  adopted  into  the  tribe.  Boone  ac- 
companied his  "  father,"  and  frequently  wit- 
nessed, unable  to  interfere,  the  whipping  and 
"  gauntlet-running "  to  which  his  unhappy 
154 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

fellow  Kentuckians  were  subjected  in  punish- 
ment for  their  fractious  behavior.  He  him- 
self, early  in  his  captivity,  had  been  forced 
to  undergo  this  often  deadly  ordeal;  but  by 
taking  a  dodging,  zigzag  course,  and  freely 
using  his  head  as  a  battering-ram  to  topple 
over  some  of  the  warriors  in  the  lines,  had 
emerged  with  few  bruises.* 

Upon  the  arrival  of  the  party  at  Detroit 
Governor  Hamilton  at  once  sent  for  the  now 
famous  Kentucky  hunter  and  paid  him  many 
attentions.  With  the  view  of  securing  his 
liberty,  the  wily  forest  diplomat  used  the 
same  sort  of  duplicity  with  the  governor  that 
had  proved  so  effective  with  Black  Fish.  It 
was  his  habit  to  carry  a  leather  bag  fastened 
about  his  neck,  containing  his  old  commission 
as  captain  in  the  British  colonial  forces, 
signed  by  Lord  Dunmore.  This  was  for  the 

*  Two  lines  of  Indians  were  formed,  five  or  six  feet  apart, 
on  either  side  of  a  marked  path.  The  prisoner  was  obliged  to 
run  between  these  lines,  while  there  were  showered  upon  him 
lusty  blows  from  whatever  weapons  the  tormentors  chose  to 
adopt — switches,  sticks,  clubs,  and  tomahawks.  It  required 
great  agility,  speed  in  running,  and  some  aggressive  strategy 
to  arrive  at  the  goal  unharmed.  Many  white  captives  were 
seriously  crippled  in  this  thrilling  experience,  and  not  a  few 
lost  their  lives. 

155 


Daniel  Boone 

purpose  of  convincing  Indians,  into  whose 
hands  he  might  fall,  that  he  was  a  friend  of 
the  king;  which  accounts  in  a  large  measure 
for  the  tender  manner  in  which  they  treated 
him.  Showing  the  document  to  Hamilton  as 
proof  of  his  devotion  to  the  British  cause, 
he  appears  to  have  repeated  his  promise  that 
he  would  surrender  the  people  of  Boonesbor- 
ough  and  conduct  them  to  Detroit,  to  live 
under  British  jurisdiction  and  protection. 
This  greatly  pleased  the  governor,  who 
sought  to  ransom  him  from  Black  Fish  for 
£100.  But  to  this  his  "father"  would  not 
agree,  stating  that  he  loved  him  too  strong- 
ly to  let  him  go — as  a  matter  of  fact,  he 
wished  his  services  as  guide  for  the  Boones- 
borough  expedition.  Upon  leaving  for  home, 
Hamilton  presented  Boone  with  a  pony,  sad- 
dle, bridle,  and  blanket,  and  a  supply  of  sil- 
ver trinkets  to  be  used  as  currency  among 
the  Indians,  and  bade  him  remember  his  duty 
to  the  king. 

Returning  to  Chillicothe  with  Black  Fish, 

the  hunter   saw  that  preparations   for  the 

spring  invasion  of  Kentucky  were  at  last 

under  way.    Delawares,  Mingos,  and  Shaw- 

156 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

nese  were  slowly  assembling,  and  runners 
were  carrying  the  war-pipe  from  village  to 
village  throughout  Ohio.  But  while  they  had 
been  absent  at  Detroit  an  event  occurred 
which  gave  Black  Fish  great  concern:  one 
of  the  adopted  men,  Andrew  Johnson — who 
had  pretended  among  the  Indians  to  be  a 
simpleton,  in  order  to  throw  off  suspicion, 
but  who  in  reality  was  one  of  the  most  astute 
of  woodsmen — had  escaped,  carrying  warn- 
ing to  Kentucky,  and  the  earliest  knowledge 
that  reached  the  settlers  of  the  location  of  the 
Shawnese  towns.  In  May,  Johnson  and  five 
comrades  went  upon  a  raid  against  one  of 
these  villages,  capturing  several  horses  and 
bringing  home  a  bunch  of  Indian  scalps, 
for  scalping  was  now  almost  as  freely  prac- 
tised by  the  frontiersmen  as  the  savages; 
such  is  the  degeneracy  wrought  by  warlike 
contact  with  an  inferior  race.  In  June  there 
was  a  similar  raid  by  Boonesborough  men, 
resulting  to  the  tribesmen  in  large  losses  of 
lives  and  horses. 

Upon  the  sixteenth  of  June,  while  Black 
Fish's  party  were  boiling  salt  at  the  saline 
springs  of  the  Scioto — about  a  dozen  miles 
157 


Daniel  Boone 

south  of  the  present  Chillicothe — Boone  man- 
aged, by  exercise  of  rare  sagacity  and  enter- 
prise, to  escape  the  watchful  eyes  of  his  keep- 
ers, their  attention  having  been  arrested  by 
the  appearance  of  a  huge  flock  of  wild  tur- 
keys. He  reached  Boonesborough  four  days 
later  after  a  perilous  journey  of  a  hundred 
and  sixty  miles  through  the  forest,  during 
which  he  had  eaten  but  one  meal — from  a 
buffalo  which  he  shot  at  Blue  Licks.  He  had 
been  absent  for  four  and  a  half  months,  and 
Mrs.  Boone,  giving  him  up  for  dead,  had  re- 
turned with  their  family  to  her  childhood 
home  upon  the  Yadkin.  His  brother  Squire, 
and  his  daughter  Jemima — now  married  to 
Flanders  Galloway — were  the  only  kinsfolk 
to  greet  the  returned  captive,  who  appeared 
out  of  the  woods  as  one  suddenly  delivered 
from  a  tomb. 

During  the  absence  of  Daniel  Boone  there 
had  been  the  usual  Indian  troubles  in  Ken- 
tucky. Colonel  Bowman  had  just  written  to 
Colonel  George  Rogers  Clark,  "  The  Indians 
have  pushed  us  hard  this  summer."  But 
Clark  himself  at  this  time  was  gaining  an 
important  advantage  over  the  enemy  in  his 
158 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

daring  expedition  against  the  British  posts 
of  Kaskaskia,  Cahokia,  and  Vincennes,  in  the 
Illinois  country.  Realizing  that  there  would 
be  no  end  to  Kentucky's  trouble  so  long  as 
the  British,  aided  by  their  French-Canadian 
agents,  were  free  to  organize  Indian  armies 
north  of  the  Ohio  for  the  purpose  of  harry- 
ing the  southern  settlements,  Clark  "  carried 
the  war  into  Africa."  With  about  a  hundred 
and  fifty  men  gathered  from  the  frontiers 
of  Virginia,  Pennsylvania,  and  Kentucky,  he 
descended  the  Ohio  River,  built  a  fort  at 
Louisville,  and  by  an  heroic  forced  march 
across  the  country  captured  Kaskaskia,  while 
Cahokia  and  Vincennes  at  once  surrendered 
to  the  valorous  Kentuckian. 

Meanwhile  there  was  business  at  hand 
for  the  people  of  Boonesborough.  Amid 
all  these  alarms  they  had  still  neglected  to 
complete  their  defenses;  but  now,  under 
the  energetic  administration  of  Boone,  the 
palisades  were  finished,  gates  and  for- 
tresses strengthened,  and  all  four  of  the 
corner  blockhouses  put  in  order.  In  ten 
days  they  were  ready  for  the  slowly  advan- 
cing host. 

159 


Daniel  Boone 

Unless  fleeing,  Indians  are  never  in  a 
hurry;  they  spend  much  time  in  noisy  prep- 
aration. Hunters  and  scouts  came  into 
Boonesborough  from  time  to  time,  and  oc- 
casionally a  retaliatory  expedition  would  re- 
turn with  horses  and  scalps  from  the  Little 
Miami  and  the  Scioto,  all  of  them  reporting 
delays  on  the  part  of  the  enemy;  neverthe- 
less all  agreed  that  a  large  force  was  form- 
ing. Toward  the  close  of  August  Boone, 
wearied  of  being  cooped  up  in  the  fort, 
went  forth  at  the  head  of  thirty  woodsmen 
to  scout  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Scioto 
towns.  With  him  were  Kenton  and  Alex- 
ander Montgomery,  who  remained  behind  in 
Ohio  to  capture  horses  and  probably  pris- 
oners, while  Boone  and  the  others  returned 
after  a  week's  absence.  On  their  way  home 
they  discovered  that  the  enemy  was  now  at 
Lower  Blue  Licks,  but  a  short  distance  from 
Boonesborough. 

At  about  ten  o'clock  the  following  morn- 
ing (September  7th)  the  Indian  army  ap- 
peared before  the  fort.  It  numbered  fully 
four  hundred  warriors,  mostly  Shawnese, 
but  with  some  Wyandots,  Cherokees,  Dela- 
160 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

wares,  Mingos,  and  other  tribesmen.  Accom- 
panying them  were  some  forty  French-Cana- 
dians, all  under  the  command  of  Boone's 
"  father,"  the  redoubtable  Black  Fish.  Pom- 
pey  served  as  chief  interpreter. 

Much  time  was  spent  in  parleys,  Boone 
in  this  manner  delaying  operations  as  long 
as  possible,  vainly  hoping  that  promised  re- 
enforcements  might  meanwhile  arrive  from 
the  Holston.  Black  Fish  wept  freely,  after 
the  Indian  fashion,  over  the  ingratitude  of 
his  runaway  "  son,"  and  his  present  stub- 
born attitude;  for  the  latter  now  told  the 
forest  chief  that  he  and  his  people  proposed 
to  fight  to  the  last  man.  Black  Fish  pre- 
sented letters  and  proclamations  from  Ham- 
ilton, again  offering  pardon  to  all  who  would 
take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  king,  and 
military  offices  for  Boone  and  the  other  lead- 
ers. When  these  were  rejected,  the  Indians 
attempted  treachery,  seeking  to  overpower 
and  kill  the  white  commissioners  to  a  treaty 
being  held  in  front  of  the  fort.  From  this 
final  council,  ending  in  a  wild  uproar,  in 
which  bullets  flew  and  knives  and  tomahawks 
clashed,  the  whites  escaped  with  difficulty, 
12  161 


Daniel  Boone 

the  two  Boones  and  another  commissioner 
receiving  painful  wounds. 

A  siege  of  ten  days  now  ensued  (Sep- 
tember 8th  to  17th),  one  of  the  most  remark- 
able in  the  history  of  savage  warfare.  The  site 
of  the  fort,  a  parallelogram  embracing  three- 
quarters  of  an  acre,  had  been  unwisely  cho- 
sen. There  was  abundant  cover  for  the  ene- 
my under  the  high  river  bank,  also  beneath 
an  encircling  clay  bank  rising  from  the  salt- 
lick branch ;  from  hills  upon  either  side  spies 
could  see  what  was  happening  within  the 
walls,  and  occasionally  drop  a  ball  into  the 
small  herd  of  cattle  and  horses  sheltered  be- 
hind the  palisades;  while  to  these  natural 
disadvantages  were  added  the  failure  of  the 
garrison  to  clear  from  the  neighborhood  of 
the  walls  the  numerous  trees,  stumps,  bushes, 
and  rocks,  each  of  which  furnished  the  best 
of  cover  for  a  lurking  foe. 

Such,  however,  was  the  stubbornness  of 
the  defense,  in  which  the  women  were,  in 
their  way,  quite  as  efficient  as  the  men,  that 
the  forces  under  Black  Fish  could  make  but 
small  impression  upon  the  valiant  little  gar- 
rison. Every  artifice  known  to  savages,  or 
162 


w   I  ^, 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

that  could  be  suggested  by  the  French,  was 
without  avail.  Almost  nightly  rains  and  the 
energy  of  the  riflemen  frustrated  the  numer- 
ous attempts  to  set  fire  to  the  cabins  by 
throwing  torches  and  lighted  fagots  upon 
their  roofs ;  a  tunnel,  intended  to  be  used  for 
blowing  up  the  walls,  was  well  under  way 
from  the  river  bank  when  rain  caused  it  to 
cave  in;  attempts  at  scaling  were  invariably 
repelled,  and  in  sharpshooting  the  whites  as 
usual  proved  the  superiors. 

But  the  result  often  hung  in  the  balance. 
Sometimes  the  attack  lasted  throughout  the 
night,  the  scene  being  constantly  lighted  by 
the  flash  of  the  rifles  and  the  glare  of  hurling 
fagots.  Besiegers  and  garrison  frequently 
exchanged  fierce  cries  of  threat  and  defiance, 
mingled  with  many  a  keen  shaft  of  wit  and 
epithet;  at  times  the  yells  and  whoops  of 
the  savages,  the  answering  shouts  and  huz- 
zahs  of  the  defenders,  the  screams  of  women 
and  girls,  the  howling  of  dogs,  the  snorting 
and  bellowing  of  the  plunging  live  stock,  to- 
gether with  the  sharp  rattle  of  firearms,  cre- 
ated a  deafening  hubbub  well  calculated  to 
test  the  nerves  of  the  strongest. 
163 


Daniel  Boone 

At  last,  on  the  morning  of  Friday,  the 
eighteenth,  the  Indians,  now  thoroughly  dis- 
heartened, suddenly  disappeared  into  the 
forest  as  silently  as  they  had  come.  Again 
Boonesborough  was  free,  having  passed 
through  the  longest  and  severest  ordeal  of 
attack  ever  known  in  Kentucky;  indeed,  it 
proved  to  be  the  last  effort  against  this  sta- 
tion. Within  the  walls  sixty  persons  had 
been  capable  of  bearing  arms,  but  only  forty 
were  effective,  some  of  these  being  negroes ; 
Logan's  Fort  had  sent  a  reenforcement  of 
fifteen  men,  and  Harrodsburg  a  few  others. 
Of  the  garrison  but  two  were  killed  and  four 
wounded,  while  Boone  estimated  that  the 
enemy  lost  thirty-seven  killed  and  a  large 
number  wounded.  The  casualties  within  the 
fort  were  astonishingly  small,  when  the  large 
amount  of  ammunition  expended  by  the  be- 
siegers is  taken  into  account.  After  they  had 
retired,  Boone's  men  picked  up  a  hundred 
and  twenty-five  pounds  of  flattened  bullets 
that  had  been  fired  at  the  log  stronghold, 
handfuls  being  scooped  up  beneath  the  port- 
holes of  the  bastions;  this  salvage  made  no 
account  of  the  balls  thickly  studding  the 
164 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

walls,  it  being  estimated  that  a  hundred 
pounds  of  lead  were  buried  in  the  logs  of 
one  of  the  bastions. 

A  week  later  a  small  company  of  militia- 
men arrived  from  Virginia,  and  several  minor 
expeditions  were  now  made  against  the  Shaw- 
nese  upon  their  own  soil.  These  raids  were 
chiefly  piloted  by  Boone's  salt-makers,  many 
of  whom  had  now  returned  from  captivity. 
Boone  is  credited  with  saying  in  his  later 
years,  although  no  doubt  in  ruder  language 
than  this :  "  Never  did  the  Indians  pursue  so 
disastrous  a  policy  as  when  they  captured 
me  and  my  salt-boilers,  and  taught  us,  what 
we  did  not  know  before,  the  way  to  their 
towns  and  the  geography  of  their  country; 
for  though  at  first  our  captivity  was  con- 
sidered a  great  calamity  to  Kentucky,  it  re- 
sulted in  the  most  signal  benefits  to  the 
country." 

Captain  Boone  was  not  without  his  crit- 
ics. Soon  after  the  siege  he  was  arraigned 
before  a  court-martial  at  Logan's  Fort  upon 
the  following  charges  preferred  by  Colonel 
Galloway,  who  thought  that  the  great  hunt- 
er was  in  favor  of  the  British  Government 
165 


Daniel  Boone 

and  had  sought  opportunity  to  play  into 
its  hands,  therefore  should  be  deprived  of 
his  commission  in  the  Kentucky  County  mi- 
litia : 

"  1.  That  Boone  had  taken  out  twenty-six 
men  *  to  make  salt  at  the  Blue  Licks,  and  the 
Indians  had  caught  him  trapping  for  beaver 
ten  miles  below  on  Licking,  and  he  volun- 
tarily surrendered  his  men  at  the  Licks  to 
the  enemy. 

"  2.  That  when  a  prisoner,  he  engaged 
with  Gov.  Hamilton  to  surrender  the  people 
of  Boonesborough  to  be  removed  to  Detroit, 
and  live  under  British  protection  and  juris- 
diction. 

"  3.  That  returning  from  captivity,  he  en- 
couraged a  party  of  men  to  accompany  him 
to  the  Paint  Lick  Town,  weakening  the  gar- 
rison at  a  time  when  the  arrival  of  an  In- 
dian army  was  daily  expected  to  attack  the 
fort. 

"  4.  That  preceding  the  attack  on  Boones- 
borough, he  was  willing  to  take  the  officers 
of  the  fort,  on  pretense  of  making  peace,  to 

*  Account  is  only  taken,  in  these  charges,  of  the  twenty- 
seven  captives. 

166 


The  Siege  of  Boonesborough 

the  Indian  camp,  beyond  the  protection  of 
the  guns  of  the  garrison." 

Boone  defended  himself  at  length,  main- 
taining that  he  aimed  only  at  the  interests 
of  the  country;  that  while  hunting  at  the 
licks  he  was  engaged  in  the  necessary  service 
of  the  camp;  that  he  had  used  duplicity  to 
win  the  confidence  of  the  enemy,  and  it  re- 
sulted favorably,  as  he  was  thereby  enabled 
to  escape  in  time  to  warn  his  people  and 
put  them  in  a  state  of  defense ;  that  his  Scioto 
expedition  was  a  legitimate  scouting  trip, 
and  turned  out  well;  and  that  in  the  nego- 
tiations before  the  fort  he  was  simply  "  play- 
ing "  the  Indians  in  order  to  gain  time  for 
expected  reenforcements.  He  was  not  only 
honorably  acquitted,  but  at  once  advanced 
to  the  rank  of  major,  and  received  evidences 
of  the  unhesitating  loyalty  of  all  classes  of 
his  fellow  borderers,  the  majority  of  whom 
appear  to  have  always  confided  in  his  sa- 
gacity and  patriotism. 

Personally  vindicated,  the  enenty  depart- 
ed, and  several  companies  of  militia  now  ar- 
riving to  garrison  the  stations  for  the  winter, 
Major  Boone  once  more  turned  his  face  to 
167 


Daniel  Boone 

the  Yadkin  and  sought  his  family.  He  found 
them  at  the  Bryan  settlement,  living  com- 
fortably in  a  small  log  cabin,  but  until  then 
unconscious  of  his  return  from  the  wilder- 
ness in  which  they  had  supposed  he  found 
his  grave. 


168 


SOLDIER  AND   STATESMAN 

IN  Daniel  Boone's  "  autobiography,"  he 
dismisses  his  year  of  absence  from  Kentucky 
with  few  words :  "  I  went  into  the  settlement, 
and  nothing  worthy  of  notice  passed  for  some 
time."  No  doubt  he  hunted  in  some  of  his 
old  haunts  upon  the  Yadkin;  and  there  is 
reason  for  believing  that  he  made  a  trip  upon 
business  of  some  character  to  Charleston, 
S.  C. 

Meanwhile,  his  fellow  settlers  of  Ken- 
tucky had  not  been  inactive.  In  February 
(1779)  Clark  repossessed  himself  of  Vin- 
cennes  after  one  of  the  most  brilliant  forced 
marches  of  the  Revolution ;  and  having  there 
captured  Governor  Hamilton — the  "  hair- 
buying  general,"  as  the  frontiersmen  called 
him,  because  they  thought  he  paid  bounties 
on  American  scalps — had  sent  him  a  prisoner 
to  Virginia.  The  long  siege  of  Boonesbor- 
ough  and  the  other  attacks  of  the  preceding 
169 


Daniel  Boone 

year,  together  with  more  recent  assaults 
upon  flatboats  descending  the  Ohio,  had 
strongly  disposed  the  Kentuckians  to  retali- 
ate on  the  Shawnese.  Two  hundred  and 
thirty  riflemen  under  Colonel  Bowman  ren- 
dezvoused in  July  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lick- 
ing, where  is  now  the  city  of  Covington. 
Nearly  a  third  of  the  force  were  left  to  guard 
the  boats  in  which  they  crossed  the  Ohio, 
the  rest  marching  against  Old  Chillicothe, 
the  chief  Shawnese  town  on  the  Little  Miami. 
They  surprised  the  Indians,  and  a  hotly  con- 
tested battle  ensued,  lasting  from  dawn  until 
ten  o'clock  in  the  morning ;  but  the  overpow- 
ering numbers  of  the  savages  caused  Bow- 
man to  return  crestfallen  to  Kentucky  with 
a  loss  of  nearly  a  dozen  men.  This  was  the 
forerunner  of  many  defeats  of  Americans, 
both  bordermen  and  regulars,  at  the  hands 
of  the  fierce  tribesmen  of  Ohio. 

Readers  of  Eevolutionary  history  as  re- 
lated from  the  Eastern  standpoint  are  led 
to  suppose  that  the  prolonged  struggle  with 
the  mother  country  everywhere  strained  the 
resources  of  the  young  nation,  and  was  the 
chief  thought  of  the  people.  This  high  ten- 
170 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

sion  was,  however,  principally  in  the  tide- 
water region.  In  the  "  back  country,"  as  the 
Western  frontiers  were  called,  there  was  no 
lack  of  patriotism,  and  bordermen  were 
numerous  in  the  colonial  armies ;  yet  the  de- 
velopment of  the  trans-Alleghany  region  was 
to  them  of  more  immediate  concern,  and 
went  forward  vigorously,  especially  during 
the  last  half  of  the  war.  This  did  not  mean 
that  the  backwoodsmen  of  the  foot-hills  were 
escaping  from  the  conflict  by  crossing  west- 
ward beyond  the  mountains;  they  were  in- 
stead planting  themselves  upon  the  left  flank, 
for  French  and  Indian  scalping  parties  were 
continually  harrying  the  Western  settle- 
ments, and  the  Eastern  forces  were  too 
busily  engaged  to  give  succor.  Kentuckians 
were  left  practically  alone  to  defend  the  back- 
door of  the  young  Republic. 

In  this  year  (1779)  the  Virginia  legisla- 
ture adopted  laws  for  the  preemption  of  land 
in  Kentucky,  which  promised  a  more  secure 
tenure  than  had  hitherto  prevailed,  and  thus 
gave  great  impetus  to  over-mountain  emi- 
gration. Hitherto  those  going  out  to  Ken- 
tucky were  largely  hunters,  explorers,  sur- 
171 


Daniel  Boone 

veyors,  and  land  speculators;  comparatively 
few  families  were  established  in  the  wilder- 
ness stations.  But  henceforth  the  emigra- 
tion was  chiefly  by  households,  some  by 
boats  down  the  Ohio  River,  and  others  over- 
land by  the  Wilderness  Eoad — for  the  first 
official  improvement  of  which  Virginia  made 
a  small  appropriation  at  this  time.  Says 
Chief  Justice  Robinson,*  whose  parents  set- 
tled in  Kentucky  in  December: 

"  This  beneficent  enactment  brought  to 
the  country  during  the  fall  and  winter  of 
that  year  an  unexampled  tide  of  emigrants, 
who,  exchanging  all  the  comforts  of  their 
native  society  and  homes  for  settlements  for 
themselves  and  their  children  here,  came  like 
pilgrims  to  a  wilderness  to  be  made  secure 
by  their  arms  and  habitable  by  the  toil  of 
their  lives.  Through  privations  incredible 
and  perils  thick,  thousands  of  men,  women, 
and  children  came  in  successive  caravans, 
forming  continuous  streams  of  human  beings, 
horses,  cattle,  and  other  domestic  animals, 
all  moving  onward  along  a  lonely  and  house- 

*  Address  at  Camp  Madison,  Franklin  County,  Ky.,  in 
1843. 

172 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

less  path  to  a  wild  and  cheerless  land.  Cast 
your  eyes  back  on  that  long  procession  of 
missionaries  in  the  cause  of  civilization;  be- 
hold the  men  on  foot  with  their  trusty  guns 
on  their  shoulders,  driving  stock  and  leading 
packhorses;  and  the  women,  some  walking 
with  pails  on  their  heads,  others  riding, 
with  children  in  their  laps,  and  other  chil- 
dren swung  in  baskets  on  horses,  fastened 
to  the  tails  of  others  going  before;  see  them 
encamped  at  night  expecting  to  be  massacred 
by  Indians ;  behold  them  in  the  month  of  De- 
cember, in  that  ever-memorable  season  of  un- 
precedented cold  called  the  'hard  winter/ 
traveling  two  or  three  miles  a  day,  fre- 
quently in  danger  of  being  frozen,  or  killed 
by  the  falling  of  horses  on  the  icy  and  almost 
impassable  trace,  and  subsisting  on  stinted 
allowances  of  stale  bread  and  meat ;  but  now, 
lastly,  look  at  them  at  the  destined  fort,  per- 
haps on  the  eve  of  merry  Christmas,  when 
met  by  the  hearty  welcome  of  friends  who 
had  come  before,  and  cheered  by  fresh  buf- 
falo-meat and  parched  corn,  they  rejoice  at 
their  deliverance,  and  resolve  to  be  contented 
with  their  lot." 

173 


Daniel  Boone 

In  October,  as  a  part  of  this  great  throng, 
Daniel  Boone  and  his  family  returned  to 
Kentucky  by  his  old  route  through  Cumber- 
land Gap,  being  two  weeks  upon  the  journey. 
The  great  hunter  was  at  the  head  of  a  com- 
pany of  Rowan  County  folk,  and  carried 
with  him  two  small  cannon,  the  first  artillery 
sent  by  Virginia  to  protect  the  Western  forts. 
Either  as  one  of  his  party,  or  later  in  the 
season,  there  came  to  Kentucky  Abraham 
Lincoln,  of  Rockingham  County,  Va.,  grand- 
father of  the  martyred  president.  The  Lin- 
coins  and  the  Boones  had  been  neighbors  and 
warm  friends  in  Pennsylvania,  and  ever 
since  had  maintained  pleasant  relations — in- 
deed, had  frequently  intermarried.  It  was 
by  Boone's  advice  and  encouragement  that 
Lincoln  migrated  with  his  family  to  the 
"  dark  and  bloody  ground  "  and  took  up  a 
forest  claim  in  the  heart  of  Jefferson  County. 
Daniel's  younger  brother  Edward,  killed  by 
Indians  a  year  later,  was  of  the  same  com- 
pany. 

Boone  also  brought  news  that  the  legis- 
lature had  incorporated  "  the  town  of 
Boonesborough  in  the  County  of  Kentuckey," 
174 


c  I 

I  I? 

•jr  <S     O 

f-4 

O  >"« 

§  c<§ 

1  0> 

•p  J 


II 


Soldier  and  Statesman       * 

of  which  he  was  named  a  trustee,  which 
office  he  eventually  declined.  The  town,  al- 
though now  laid  out  into  building  lots,  and  an- 
ticipating a  prosperous  growth,  never  rose  to 
importance  and  at  last  passed  away.  Noth- 
ing now  remains  upon  the  deserted  site, 
which  Boone  could  have  known,  save  a  de- 
crepit sycamore-tree  and  a  tumble-down 
ferry  established  in  the  year  of  the  incor- 
poration. 

As  indicated  in  Kobinson's  address,  quot- 
ed above,  the  winter  of  1779-80  was  a  season 
of  unwonted  severity.  After  an  exception- 
ally mild  autumn,  cold  weather  set  in  by  the 
middle  of  November  and  lasted  without  thaw 
for  two  months,  with  deep  snow  and  zero 
temperature.  The  rivers  were  frozen  as  far 
south  as  Nashville;  emigrant  wagons  were 
stalled  in  the  drifts  while  crossing  the  moun- 
tains, and  everywhere  was  reported  unexam- 
pled hardship.  It  will  be  remembered  that 
the  Revolutionary  Army  in  the  East  suffered 
intensely  from  the  same  cause.  The  Indians 
had,  the  preceding  summer,  destroyed  most 
of  the  corn  throughout  Kentucky;  the  game 
was  rapidly  decreasing,  deer  and  buffaloes 
1Y5 


Daniel  Boone 

having  receded  before  the  advance  of  settle- 
ment, and  a  temporary  famine  ensued. 
Hunters  were  employed  to  obtain  meat  for 
the  newcomers ;  and  in  this  occupation  Boone 
and  Harrod,  in  particular,  were  actively  en- 
gaged throughout  the  winter,  making  long 
trips  into  the  forest,  both  north  and  south 
of  Kentucky  River. 

The  land  titles  granted  by  the  Tran- 
sylvania Company  having  been  declared 
void,  it  became  necessary  for  Boone  and  the 
other  settlers  under  that  grant  to  purchase 
from  the  State  government  of  Virginia  new 
warrants.  For  this  purpose  Boone  set  out 
for  Richmond  in  the  spring.  Nathaniel  and 
Thomas  Hart  and  others  of  his  friends  com- 
missioned him  to  act  as  their  agent  in  this 
matter.  With  his  own  small  means  and  that 
which  was  entrusted  to  him  for  the  purpose, 
he  carried  $20,000  in  depreciated  paper 
money — probably  worth  but  half  that  amount 
in  silver.  It  appears  that  of  this  entire  sum 
he  was  robbed  upon  his  way — where,  or  un- 
der what  circumstances,  we  are  unable  to 
discover.  His  petition  to  the  Kentucky  leg- 
islature, in  his  old  age,  simply  states  the 
176 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

fact  of  the  robbery,  adding  that  he  "was 
left  destitute."  A  large  part  of  the  money 
was  the  property  of  his  old  friends,  the 
Harts,  but  many  others  also  suffered  greatly. 
There  was  some  disposition  on  the  part  of 
a  few  to  attribute  dishonorable  action  to 
Boone;  but  the  Harts,  although  the  chief 
losers,  came  promptly  to  the  rescue  and 
sharply  censured  his  critics,  declaring  him 
to  be  a  "  just  and  upright "  man,  beyond  sus- 
picion— a  verdict  which  soon  became  unani- 
mous. Sympathy  for  the  honest  but  unbusi-* 
nesslike  pioneer  was  so  general,  that  late  in 
June,  soon  after  the  robbery,  Virginia  grant- 
ed him  a  preemption  of  a  thousand  acres  of 
land  in  what  is  now  Bourbon  County. 

A  tradition  exists  that  while  in  Virginia 
that  summer  Boone  called  upon  his  former 
host  at  Detroit,  then  a  prisoner  of  war,  and 
expressed  sympathy  for  the  sad  plight  into 
which  the  English  governor  had  fallen; 
also  some  indignation  at  the  harsh  treatment 
accorded  him,  and  of  which  Hamilton  bit- 
terly complained. 

The  founder  of  Boonesborough  was  soon 

back  at  his  station,  for  he  served  as  a  jury- 
is  177 


Daniel  Boone 

man  there  on  the  first  of  July.  During  his 
absence  immigration  into  Kentucky  had  been 
greater  than  ever;  three  hundred  well-laden 
family  boats  had  arrived  in  the  spring  from 
the  Pennsylvania  and  New  York  frontiers, 
while  many  caravans  had  come  from  Vir- 
ginia and  the  Carolinas  over  the  Wilderness 
Eoad.  Attacks  by  Indian  scalping  parties 
had  been  numerous  along  both  routes,  but 
particularly  upon  the  Ohio.  As  a  reprisal 
for  Bowman's  expedition  of  the  previous 
year,  and  intending  to  interrupt  settlement, 
Colonel  Byrd,  of  the  British  Army,  de- 
scended in  June  upon  Ruddle's  and  Martin's 
Stations,  at  the  forks  of  the  Licking,  with  six 
hundred  Indians  and  French-Canadians,  and 
bringing  six  small  cannon  with  which  to  bat- 
ter the  Kentucky  palisades.  Both  garrisons 
were  compelled  to  surrender,  and  the  victors 
returned  to  Detroit  with  a  train  of  three  hun- 
dred prisoners — men,  women,  and  children — 
upon  whom  the  savages  practised  cruelties 
of  a  particularly  atrocious  character. 

This  inhuman  treatment  of  prisoners  of 
war  created  wide-spread  indignation  upon 
the  American  border.    In  retaliation,  George 
ITS 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

Eogers  Clark  at  once  organized  an  expedi- 
tion to  destroy  Pickaway,  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal Shawnese  towns  on  the  Great  Miami. 
The  place  was  reduced  to  ashes  and  a  large 
number  of  Indians  killed,  the  Americans  los- 
ing seventeen  men.  Clark  had  previously 
built  Fort  Jefferson,  upon  the  first  bluff  on 
the  eastern  side  of  the  Mississippi  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Ohio,  in  order  to  accentuate 
the  claim  of  the  United  States  that  it  extend- 
ed to  the  Mississippi  on  the  west ;  but  as  this 
was  upon  the  territory  of  friendly  Chicka- 
saws,  the  invasion  aroused  their  ire,  and  it 
was  deemed  prudent  temporarily  to  abandon 
the  post. 

Another  important  event  of  the  year  (No- 
vember, 1780)  was  the  division  of  Kentucky 
by  the  Virginia  legislature  into  three  coun- 
ties— Jefferson,  with  its  seat  at  Louisville, 
now  the  chief  town  in  the  Western  country; 
Lincoln,  governed  from  Harrodsburg;  and 
Fayette,  with  Lexington  as  its  seat.  Of 
these,  Fayette,  embracing  the  country  be- 
tween the  Kentucky  and  the  Ohio,  was  the 
least  populated;  and,  being  the  most  north- 
ern and  traversed  by  the  Licking  Kiver,  now 
179 


Daniel  Boone 

the  chief  war-path  of  the  Shawnese,  was  most 
exposed  to  attack.  After  his  return  Boone 
soon  tired  of  Boonesborough,  for  in  his  ab- 
sence the  population  had  greatly  changed  by 
the  removal  or  death  of  many  of  his  old 
friends;  and,  moreover,  game  had  quite  de- 
serted the  neighborhood.  With  his  family, 
his  laden  packhorses,  and  his  dogs,  he  there- 
fore moved  to  a  new  location  across  Ken- 
tucky River,  about  five  miles  northwest  of 
his  first  settlement.  Here,  at  the  crossing  of 
several  buffalo-trails,  and  on  the  banks  of 
Boone's  Creek,  he  built  a  palisaded  log  house 
called  Boone's  Station.  Upon  the  division  of 
Kentucky  this  new  stronghold  fell  within  the 
borders  of  Fayette  County. 

In  the  primitive  stage  of  frontier  settle- 
ment, when  the  common  weal  demanded  from 
every  man  or  boy  able  to  carry  a  rule  active 
militia  service  whenever  called  upon,  the 
military  organization  was  quite  equal  in  im- 
portance to  the  civil.  The  new  wilderness 
counties  were  therefore  equipped  with  a  full 
roll  of  officers,  Fayette  County's  colonel  be- 
ing John  Todd,  while  Daniel  Boone  was  lieu- 
tenant-colonel; Floyd,  Pope,  Logan,  and 
180 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

Trigg  served  the  sister  counties  in  like  man- 
ner. The  three  county  regiments  were 
formed  into  a  brigade,  with  Clark  as  briga- 
dier-general, his  headquarters  being  at  Lou- 
isville (Fort  Nelson).  Each  county  had  also 
a  court  to  try  civil  and  criminal  cases,  but 
capital  offenses  could  only  be  tried  at  Rich- 
mond. There  was  likewise  a  surveyor  for 
each  county,  Colonel  Thomas  Marshall  serv- 
ing for  Fayette;  Boone  was  his  deputy  for 
several  years  (1782-85). 

In  October,  1780,  Edward  Boone,  then  but 
thirty-six  years  of  age,  accompanied  Daniel 
to  Grassy  Lick,  in  the  northeast  part  of  the 
present  Bourbon  County,  to  boil  salt.  Being 
attacked  by  a  large  band  of  Indians,  Edward 
was  killed  in  the  first  volley,  and  fell  at  the 
feet  of  his  brother,  who  at  once  shot  the 
savage  whom  he  thought  to  be  the  slayer. 
Daniel  then  fled,  stopping  once  to  load  and 
kill  another  foe.  Closely  pursued,  he  had 
recourse  to  all  the  arts  of  evasion  at  his  com- 
mand— wading  streams  to  break  the  trail, 
swinging  from  tree  to  tree  by  aid  of  wild 
grape-vines,  and  frequently  zigzagging.  A 
hound  used  in  the  chase  kept  closely  to  him, 
181 


Daniel  Boone 

however,  and  revealed  his  whereabouts  by 
baying,  until  the  hunter  killed  the  wily  beast, 
and  finally  reached  his  station  in  safety. 
Heading  an  avenging  party  of  sixty  men, 
Boone  at  once  went  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy, 
and  followed  them  into  Ohio,  but  the  expedi- 
tion returned  without  result. 

The  following  April  Boone  went  to  Rich- 
mond as  one  of  the  first  representatives  of 
Fayette  County  in  the  State  legislature. 
With  the  approach  of  Cornwallis,  La  Fayette, 
whose  corps  was  then  protecting  Virginia, 
abandoned  Richmond,  and  the  Assembly  ad- 
journed to  Charlottesville.  Colonel  Tarleton, 
at  the  head  of  a  body  of  light  horse,  made  a 
dash  upon  the  town,  hoping  to  capture  the 
law-makers,  and  particularly  Governor  Jef- 
ferson, whose  term  was  just  then  expiring. 
Jefferson  and  the  entire  Assembly  had  been 
warned,  but  had  a  narrow  escape  (June  4th), 
for  while  they  were  riding  out  of  one  end 
of  town  Tarleton  was  galloping  in  at  the 
other.  The  raider  succeeded  in  capturing 
three  or  four  of  the  legislators,  Boone  among 
them,  and  after  destroying  a  quantity  of  mili- 
tary stores  took  his  prisoners  to  Cornwallis's 
182 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

camp.  The  members  were  paroled  after  a 
few  days'  detention.  The  Assembly  fled  to 
Staunton,  thirty-five  miles  distant,  where  it 
resumed  the  session.  The  released  members 
are  reported  to  have  again  taken  their  seats, 
although,  after  his  capture,  Boone's  name 
does  not  appear  in  the  printed  journals. 
Possibly  the  conditions  of  the  parole  did  not 
permit  him  again  to  serve  at  the  current  ses- 
sion, which  closed  the  twenty-third  of  June. 
He  seems  to  have  spent  the  summer  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  late  in  September  went  up  the 
Ohio  to  Pittsburg,  thence  journeying  to  the 
home  of  his  boyhood  in  eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  visited  friends  and  relatives 
for  a  month,  and  then  returned  to  Richmond 
to  resume  his  legislative  duties. 

Of  all  the  dark  years  which  Kentucky  ex- 
perienced, 1782  was  the  bloodiest.  The  Brit- 
ish authorities  at  Detroit  exerted  their  ut- 
most endeavors  to  stem  the  rising  tide  of 
settlement  and  to  crush  the  aggressive  mili- 
tary operations  of  Clark  and  his  fellow- 
borderers.  With  presents  and  smooth  words 
they  enlisted  the  cooperation  of  the  most 
distant  tribes,  the  hope  being  held  out  that 
183 


Daniel  Boone 

success  would  surely  follow  persistent  attack 
and  a  policy  of  "no  quarter."  It  would  be 
wearisome  to  cite  all  the  forays  made  by  sav- 
ages during  this  fateful  year,  upon  flatboats 
descending  the  Ohio,  upon  parties  of  immi- 
grants following  the  Wilderness  Road,  upon 
outlying  forest  settlers,  and  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  fortified  stations.  The  border  an- 
nals of  the  time  abound  in  details  of  rob- 
bery, burning,  murder,  captivities,  and  of 
heart-rending  tortures  worse  than  death.  A 
few  only  which  have  won  prominence  in  his- 
tory must  here  suffice. 

In  March,  some  Wyandots  had  been  op- 
erating in  the  neighborhood  of  Boonesbor- 
ough  and  then  departed  for  EstilFs  Station, 
fifteen  miles  away,  near  the  present  town 
of  Richmond.  Captain  Estill  and  his  gar- 
rison of  twenty-five  men  were  at  the  time 
absent  on  a  scout,  and  thus  unable  to  pre- 
vent the  killing  and  scalping  of  a  young 
woman  and  the  capture  of  a  negro  slave. 
According  to  custom,  the  Indians  retreated 
rapidly  after  this  adventure,  but  were  pur- 
sued by  Estill.  A  stubborn  fight  ensued, 
there  being  now  eighteen  whites  and  twenty- 
184 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

five  savages.  Each  man  stood  behind  a  tree, 
and  through  nearly  two  hours  fought  with 
uncommon  tenacity.  The  Indians  lost  seven- 
teen killed  and  two  wounded,  while  the  whites 
were  reduced  to  three  survivors,  Estill  him- 
self being  among  the  slain.  The  survivors 
then  withdrew  by  mutual  consent. 

In  May,  his  station  having  been  attacked 
with  some  loss,  Captain  Ashton  followed  the 
retreating  party  of  besiegers,  much  larger 
than  his  own  squad,  and  had  a  fierce  engage- 
ment with  them  lasting  two  hours.  He  and 
eleven  of  his  comrades  lost  their  lives,  and 
the  remainder  fled  in  dismay.  A  similar 
tragedy  occurred  in  August,  when  Captain 
Holden,  chasing  a  band  of  scalpers,  was  de- 
feated with  a  loss  of  four  killed  and  one 
wounded. 

The  month  of  August  marked  the  height 
of  the  onslaught.  Horses  were  carried  off, 
cattle  killed,  men  at  work  in  the  fields 
mercilessly  slaughtered,  and  several  of  the 
more  recent  and  feeble  stations  were  aban- 
doned. Bryan's  Station,  consisting  of  forty 
cabins  enclosed  by  a  stout  palisade,  was  the 
largest  and  northernmost  of  a  group  of 
185 


Daniel  Boone 

Fayette  County  settlements  in  the  rich  coun- 
try of  which  Lexington  is  the  center.  An 
army  of  nearly  a  thousand  Indians — the  larg- 
est of  either  race  that  had  thus  far  been 
mustered  in  the  West — was  gathered  under 
Captains  Caldwell  and  McKee,  of  the  British 
Army,  who  were  accompanied  by  the  rene- 
gade Simon  Girty  and  a  small  party  of  ran- 
gers. Scouts  had  given  a  brief  warning  to 
the  little  garrison  of  fifty  riflemen,  but  when 
the  invaders  appeared  during  the  night  of 
August  15th  the  defenders  were  still  lacking 
a  supply  of  water. 

The  Indians  at  first  sought  to  conceal 
their  presence  by  hiding  in  the  weeds  and 
bushes  which,  as  at  Boonesborough,  had 
carelessly  been  left  standing.  Although 
aware  of  the  extent  of  the  attacking  force, 
the  garrison  affected  to  be  without  suspicion. 
In  the  morning  the  women  and  girls,  confi- 
dent that  if  no  fear  were  exhibited  they 
would  not  be  shot  by  the  hiding  savages,  vol- 
unteered to  go  to  the  spring  outside  the  walls, 
and  by  means  of  buckets  bring  in  enough 
water  to  fill  the  reservoir.  This  daring  feat 
was  successfully  accomplished.  Although 
186 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

painted  faces  and  gleaming  rifles  could  read- 
ily be  seen  in  the  underbrush  all  about  the 
pool,  this  bucket-line  of  brave  frontiers- 
women  laughed  and  talked  as  gaily  as  if  un- 
conscious of  danger,  and  were  unmolested. 

Immediately  after  their  return  within  the 
gates,  some  young  men  went  to  the  spring 
to  draw  the  enemy's  fire,  and  met  a  fusillade 
from  which  they  barely  escaped  with  their 
lives.  The  assault  now  began  in  earnest. 
Runners  were  soon  spreading  the  news  of 
the  invasion  among  the  neighboring  garri- 
sons. A  relief  party  of  forty-six  hurrying  in 
from  Lexington  fell  into  an  ambush  and  lost 
a  few  of  their  number  in  killed  and  wounded, 
but  the  majority  reached  the  fort  through  a 
storm  of  bullets.  The  besiegers  adopted  the 
usual  methods  of  savage  attack — quick  rush- 
es, shooting  from  cover,  fire-arrows,  and  the 
customary  uproar  of  whoops  and  yells — but 
without  serious  effect.  The  following  morn- 
ing, fearful  of  a  general  outpouring  of  set- 
tlers, the  enemy  withdrew  hurriedly  and  in 
sullen  mood. 

Colonel  Boone  was  soon  marching 
through  the  forest  toward  Bryan's,  as  were 
187 


Daniel  Boone 

similar  companies  from  Lexington,  McCon- 
nell's,  and  McGee's,  the  other  members  of 
the  Fayette  County  group;  and  men  from 
the  counties  of  Jefferson  and  Lincoln  were 
also  upon  the  way,  under  their  military  lead- 
ers. The  neighboring  contingents  promptly 
arrived  at  Bryan's  in  the  course  of  the  after- 
noon. 

The  next  morning  a  hundred  and  eighty- 
two  of  the  best  riflemen  in  Kentucky,  under 
Colonel  Todd  as  ranking  officer,  started  in 
pursuit  of  the  foe,  who  had  followed  a  buf- 
falo-trail to  Blue  Licks,  and  were  crossing 
the  Licking  when  the  pursuers  arrived  on  the 
scene.  A  council  of  war  was  held,  at  which 
Boone,  the  most  experienced  man  in  the 
party,  advised  delay  until  the  expected  re- 
enforcements  could  arrive.  The  bulk  of  the 
Indians  had  by  this  time  escaped,  leaving 
only  about  three  hundred  behind,  who  were 
plainly  luring  the  whites  to  an  attack.  Todd, 
Trigg,  and  most  of  the  other  leaders  sided 
with  Boone ;  but  Major  Hugh  McGary,  an  ar- 
dent, hot-headed  man,  with  slight  military 
training,  dared  the  younger  men  to  follow 
him,  and  spurred  his  horse  into  the  river, 
188 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

whither,  in  the  rash  enthusiasm  of  the  mo- 
ment, the  hot-bloods  followed  him,  leaving 
the  chief  officers  no  choice  but  to  accompany 
them. 

Rushing  up  a  rocky  slope  on  the  other 
side,  where  a  few  Indians  could  be  seen,  the 
column  soon  fell  into  an  ambush.  A  mad 
panic  resulted,  in  which  the  Kentuckians  for 
the  most  part  acted  bravely  and  caused  many 
of  the  enemy  to  fall ;  but  they  were  overpow- 
ered and  forced  to  flee  in  hot  haste,  leaving 
seventy  of  their  number  dead  on  the  field 
and  seven  captured.  Among  the  killed  were 
Todd  and  Trigg,  fighting  gallantly  to  the  last. 
Boone  lost  his  son  Israel,  battling  by  his 
side,  and  himself  escaped  only  by  swimming 
the  river  amid  a  shower  of  lead.  A  day  or 
two  later  Logan  arrived  with  four  hundred 
men,  among  whom  was  Simon  Kenton,  to 
reenforce  Todd;  to  him  was  left  only  the 
melancholy  duty  of  burying  the  dead,  now 
sadly  disfigured  by  Indians,  vultures,  and 
wolves. 

The  greater  part  of  the  savage  victors, 
laden  with  scalps  and  spoils,  returned  ex- 
ultantly to  their  northern  homes,  although 
189 


Daniel  Boone 

small  bands  still  remained  south  of  the  Ohio, 
carrying  wide-spread  devastation  through 
the  settlements,  especially  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Salt  River,  where,  at  one  station, 
thirty-seven  prisoners  were  taken. 

While  all  these  tragedies  were  being  en- 
acted, General  Clark,  at  the  Falls  of  the  Ohio, 
had  offered  only  slight  aid.  But  indignant 
protests  sent  in  to  the  Virginia  authorities 
by  the  Kentucky  settlers,  who  were  now  in 
a  state  of  great  alarm,  roused  the  hero  of 
Kaskaskia  and  Vincennes  to  a  sense  of  his 
duty.  A  vigorous  call  to  arms  was  now  is- 
sued throughout  the  three  counties.  Early  in 
November  over  a  thousand  mounted  riflemen 
met  their  brigadier  at  the  mouth  of  the  Lick- 
ing, and  from  the  site  of  Cincinnati  marched 
through  the  Ohio  forests  to  the  Indian  towns 
on  the  Little  Miami.  The  savages  fled  in 
consternation,  leaving  the  Kentuckians  to 
burn  their  cabins  and  the  warehouses  of  sev- 
eral British  traders,  besides  large  stores  of 
grain  and  dried  meats,  thus  entailing  great 
suffering  among  the  Shawnese  during  the 
winter  now  close  at  hand. 

The  triumphant  return  of  this  expedition 
190 


Soldier  and  Statesman 

gave  fresh  heart  to  the  people  of  Kentucky; 
and  the  sequel  proved  that,  although  the 
tribesmen  of  the  north  frequently  raided  the 
over-mountain  settlers  throughout  the  decade 
to  come,  no  such  important  invasions  as 
those  of  1782  were  again  undertaken. 


191 


CHAPTEE  XIII 
KENTUCKY'S  PATH  OF  THORNS 

THE  preliminary  articles  of  peace  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Great  Britain 
had  been  signed  on  the  thirtieth  of  Novem- 
ber, 1782 ;  but  it  was  not  until  the  following 
spring  that  the  news  reached  Kentucky.  The 
northern  tribes  had  information  of  the  peace 
quite  as  early;  and  discouraged  at  appar- 
ently losing  their  British  allies,  who  had  fed, 
clothed,  armed,  and  paid  them  from  head- 
quarters in  Detroit,  for  a  time  suspended 
their  organized  raids  into  Kentucky.  This 
welcome  respite  caused  immigration  to  in- 
crease rapidly. 

We  have  seen  how  the  old  system  of  mak- 
ing preemptions  and  surveys  led  to  the  over- 
lapping of  claims,  the  commission  of  many 
acts  of  injustice,  and  wide-spread  confusion 
in  titles.  Late  in  1782,  Colonel  Thomas  Mar- 
shall, the  surveyor  of  Fayette  County,  ar- 
rived from  Virginia,  and  began  to  attempt  a 
192 


Kentucky's  Path  of  Thorns 

straightening  of  the  land  conflict.  Boone 
was  now  not  only  the  surveyor's  deputy,  but 
both  sheriff  and  county  lieutenant  of  Fayette, 
a  combination  of  offices  which  he  held  until 
his  departure  from  Kentucky.  It  was  his 
duty  as  commandant  to  provide  an  escort 
for  Marshall  through  the  woods  to  the  Falls 
of  the  Ohio,  where  was  now  the  land-office. 
The  following  order  which  he  issued  for  this 
guard  has  been  preserved;  it  is  a  character- 
istic sample  of  the  many  scores  of  letters 
and  other  documents  which  have  come  down 
to  us  from  the  old  hero,  who  fought  better 
than  he  spelled : 

"  Orders  to  Capt.  Hazelrigg — your  are 
amedetly  to  order  on  Duty  3  of  your  Com- 
pany as  goude  [guard]  to  scorte  Col  Marsh- 
shall  to  the  falls  of  ohigho  you  will  call  on 
those  who  was  Exicused  from  the  Shone 
[Shawnese]  Expedistion  and  those  who 
Come  into  the  County  after  the  army 
Marched  they  are  to  meet  at  Lexinton  on 
Sunday  next  with  out  fale  given  under  my 
hand  this  6  Day  of  Janury  1783. 

"  DNL  BOONE  " 
14  193 


Daniel  Boone 

Another  specimen  document  of  the  time 
has  reference  to  the  scouting  which  it  was 
necessary  to  maintain  throughout  much  of 
the  year;  for  small  straggling  bands  of  the 
enemy  were  still  lurking  about,  eager  to  cap- 
ture occasional  scalps,  the  proudest  trophies 
which  a  warrior  could  obtain.  It  also  is  ap- 
parently addressed  to  Hazelrigg : 

"  orders  the  15th  feberry  1783 
"  Sir  you  are  amedetly  to  Call  on  Duty 
one  thurd  of  our  melitia  as  will  mounted  on 
horse  as  poseble  and  Eight  Days  purvistion 
to  take  a  touere  as  follows  Commanded  by 
Leut  Col  patison  and  Rendevues  at  Strod 
[Strode's  Station]  on  thusday  the  20th  from 
there  to  March  to  Colkes  [Calk's]  Cabin 
thence  an  Este  Corse  till  the  gat  10  miles 
above  the  uper  Blew  Licks  then  Down  to 
Lickes  thence  to  Limestown  and  if  no  Sine 
[is]  found  a  stright  Corse  to  Eagel  Crick  10 
miles  from  the  head  from  then  home  if  Sine 
be  found  the  Commander  to  act  as  he  thinks 
most  prudent  as  you  will  be  the  Best  Judge 
when  on  the  Spot.  You  will  first  Call  on  all 
who  [were]  Excused  from  the  Expedistion 
194 


Kentucky's  Path  of  Thorns 

Except  those  that  went  to  the  falls  with  Col. 
Marshall  and  then  Call  them  off  as  they 
Stand  on  the  List  here  in  f  aile  not.  given  und 
my  hand  «  DANIEL  BOONE  C  Lt." 

In  March  the  Virginia  legislature  united 
the  three  counties  into  the  District  of  Ken- 
tucky, with  complete  legal  and  military  ma- 
chinery; in  the  latter,  Benjamin  Logan 
ranked  as  senior  colonel  and  district  lieuten- 
ant. It  will  be  remembered  that  when  the 
over-mountain  country  was  detached  from 
Fincastle,  it  was  styled  the  County  of  Ken- 
tucky; then  the  name  of  Kentucky  was  ob- 
literated by  its  division  into  three  counties; 
and  now  the  name  was  revived  by  the  crea- 
tion of  the  district,  which  in  due  time  was 
to  become  a  State.  The  log-built  town  of 
Danville  was  named  as  the  capital. 

It  is  estimated  that  during  the  few  years 
immediately  following  the  close  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary War  several  thousand  persons 
came  each  year  to  Kentucky  from  the  sea- 
board States,  although  many  of  these  re- 
turned to  their  homes  either  disillusioned  or 
because  of  Indian  scares.  In  addition  to  the 
195 


Daniel  Boone 

actual  settlers,  who  cared  for  no  more  land 
than  they  could  use,  there  were  merchants 
who  saw  great  profits  in  taking  boat-loads  of 
goods  down  the  Ohio  or  by  pack-trains  over 
the  mountains ;  lawyers  and  other  young  pro- 
fessional men  who  wished  to  make  a  start  in 
new  communities ;  and  speculators  who  hoped 
to  make  fortunes  in  obtaining  for  a  song  ex- 
tensive tracts  of  fertile  wild  land,  which  they 
vainly  imagined  would  soon  be  salable  at 
large  prices  for  farms  and  town  sites.  Many 
of  the  towns,  although  ill-kept  and  far  from 
prosperous  in  appearance,  were  fast  extend- 
ing beyond  their  lines  of  palisade  and  boast- 
ing of  stores,  law-offices,  market-places,  and 
regular  streets;  Louisville  had  now  grown 
to  a  village  of  three  hundred  inhabitants,  of 
whom  over  a  third  were  fighting-men.  Be- 
sides Americans,  there  were  among  the  new- 
comers many  Germans,  Scotch,  and  Irish, 
thrifty  in  the  order  named. 

At  last  Kentucky  was  raising  produce 
more  than  sufficient  to  feed  her  own  people, 
and  an  export  trade  had  sprung  up.  Crops 
were  being  diversified:  Indian  corn  still  re- 
mained the  staple,  but  there  were  also  mel- 
196 


Kentucky's  Path  of  Thorns 

ons,  pumpkins,  tobacco,  and  orchards;  be- 
sides, great  droves  of  horses,  cattle,  sheep, 
and  hogs,  branded  or  otherwise  marked, 
ranged  at  large  over  the  country,  as 
in  old  days  on  the  Virginia  and  Carolina 
foot-hills.  Away  from  the  settlements  buf- 
faloes still  yielded  much  beef,  bacon  was 
made  from  bears,  and  venison  was  a  staple 
commodity. 

The  fur  trade  was  chiefly  carried  on  by 
French  trappers ;  but  American  hunters,  like 
the  Boones  and  Kenton,  still  gathered  peltries 
from  the  streams  and  forests,  and  took  or 
sent  them  to  the  East,  either  up  the  Ohio  in 
bateaux  or  on  packhorses  over  the  moun- 
tains— paths  still  continually  beset  by  sav- 
age assailants.  Large  quantities  of  ginseng 
were  also  shipped  to  the  towns  on  the  sea- 
board. Of  late  there  had  likewise  developed 
a  considerable  trade  with  New  Orleans  and 
other  Spanish  towns  down  the  Mississippi 
Eiver.  Traders  with  flatboats  laden  with 
Kentucky  produce — bacon,  beef,  salt,  and 
tobacco — would  descend  the  great  water- 
way, both  of  whose  banks  were  audaciously 
claimed  by  Spain  as  far  up  as  the  mouth  of 
197 


Daniel  Boone 

the  Ohio,  and  take  great  risks  from  Indian  at- 
tack or  from  corrupt  Spanish  custom-house 
officials,  whom  it  was  necessary  to  bribe  free- 
ly that  they  might  not  confiscate  boat  and 
cargo.  This  commerce  was  always  uncertain, 
often  ending  in  disaster,  but  immensely  prof- 
itable to  the  unprincipled  men  who  managed 
to  ingratiate  themselves  with  the  Spanish  au- 
thorities. 

Boone  was  now  in  frequent  demand  as  a 
pilot  and  surveyor  by  capitalists  who  relied 
upon  his  unrivaled  knowledge  of  the  country 
to  help  them  find  desirable  tracts  of  land; 
often  he  was  engaged  to  meet  incoming  par- 
ties of  immigrants  over  the  Wilderness  Road, 
with  a  band  of  riflemen  to  guard  them  against 
Indians,  to  furnish  them  with  wild  meat — 
for  the  newcomers  at  first  were  inexpert  in 
killing  buffaloes — and  to  show  them  the  way 
to  their  claims.  He  was  prominent  as  a  pio- 
neer; as  county  lieutenant  he  summoned  his 
faithful  men-at-arms  to  repel  or  avenge  sav- 
age attacks ;  and  his  fame  as  hunter  and  ex- 
plorer had  by  this  time  not  only  become  gen- 
eral throughout  the  United  States  but  had 
even  reached  Europe. 

198 


Kentucky's  Path  of  Thorns 

His  reputation  was  largely  increased  by 
the  appearance  in  1784  of  the  so-called  "  au- 
tobiography." We  have  seen  that,  although 
capable  of  roughly  expressing  himself  on 
paper,  and  of  making  records  of  his  rude 
surveys,  he  was  in  no  sense  a  scholar.  Yet 
this  autobiography,  although  signed  by  him- 
self, is  pedantic  in  form,  and  deals  in  words 
as  large  and  sonorous  as  though  uttered  by 
the  great  Doctor  Samuel  Johnson.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  it  is  the  production  of  John 
Filson,  the  first  historian  of  Kentucky  and 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  Cincinnati.  Filson 
was  a  schoolmaster,  quite  devoid  of  humor, 
and  with  a  strong  penchant  for  learned 
phrases.  In  setting  down  the  story  of 
Boone's  life,  as  related  to  him  by  the  great 
hunter,  he  made  the  latter  talk  in  the  first 
person,  in  a  stilted  manner  quite  foreign 
to  the  hardy  but  unlettered  folk  of  whom 
Boone  was  a  type.  Wherever  Boone's  mem- 
ory failed,  Filson  appears  to  have  filled  in 
the  gaps  from  tradition  and  his  own  imagina- 
tion; thus  the  autobiography  is  often  wrong 
as  to  facts,  and  possesses  but  minor  value  as 
historical  material.  The  little  book  was,  how- 
199 


Daniel  Boone 

ever,  widely  circulated  both  at  home  and 
abroad,  and  gave  Boone  a  notoriety  excelled 
by  few  men  of  his  day.  Some  years  later 
Byron  wrote  some  indifferent  lines  upon 
"  General  Boone  of  Kentucky ; "  the  public 
journals  of  the  time  had  accounts  of  his 
prowess,  often  grossly  exaggerated;  and 
English  travelers  into  the  interior  of  Amer- 
ica eagerly  sought  the  hero  and  told  of  him 
in  their  books. 

Yet  it  must  be  confessed  that  he  had  now 
ceased  to  be  a  real  leader  in  the  affairs  of 
Kentucky.  A  kindly,  simple-hearted,  modest, 
silent  man,  he  had  lived  so  long  by  himself 
alone  in  the  woods  that  he  was  ill  fitted  to 
cope  with  the  horde  of  speculators  and  other 
self-seekers  who  were  now  despoiling  the  old 
hunting-grounds  to  which  Finley  had  piloted 
him  only  fifteen  years  before.  Of  great  use 
to  the  frontier  settlements  as  explorer,  hunt- 
er, pilot,  land-seeker,  surveyor,  Indian  fight- 
er, and  sheriff — and,  indeed,  as  magistrate 
and  legislator  so  long  as  Kentucky  was  a 
community  of  riflemen — he  had  small  capac- 
ity for  the  economic  and  political  sides  of 
commonwealth-building.  For  this  reason  we 
200 


Kentucky's  Path  of  Thorns 

find  him  hereafter,  although  still  in  middle 
life,  taking  but  slight  part  in  the  making  of 
Kentucky;  none  the  less  did  his  career 
continue  to  be  adventurous,  picturesque,  and 
in  a  measure  typical  of  the  rapidly  expand- 
ing West. 

Probably  in  the  early  spring  of  1786 
Boone  left  the  neighborhood  of  the  Kentucky 
Eiver,  and  for  some  three  years  dwelt  at 
Maysville  (Limestone),  still  the  chief  gate- 
way to  Kentucky  for  the  crowds  of  immi- 
grants who  came  by  water.  He  was  there  a 
tavern-keeper — probably  Mrs.  Boone  was 
the  actual  hostess — and  small  river  mer- 
chant. He  still  frequently  worked  at  sur- 
veying, of  course  hunted  and  trapped  as  of 
old,  and  traded  up  and  down  the  Ohio  River 
between  Maysville  and  Point  Pleasant — the 
last-named  occupation  a  far  from  peaceful 
one,  for  in  those  troublous  times  navigation 
of  the  Ohio  was  akin  to  running  the  gaunt- 
let; savages  haunted  the  banks,  and  by  dint 
of  both  strategy  and  open  attack  wrought  a 
heavy  mortality  among  luckless  travelers  and 
tradesmen.  The  goods  which  he  bartered  to 
the  Kentuckians  for  furs,  skins,  and  ginseng 
201 


Daniel  Boone 

were  obtained  in  Maryland,  whither  he  and 
his  sons  went  with  laden  pack-animals,  often 
driving  before  them  loose  horses  for  sale  in 
the  Eastern  markets.  Sometimes  they  fol- 
lowed some  familiar  mountain  road,  at  others 
struck  out  over  new  paths,  for  no  longer  was 
the  Wilderness  Eoad  the  only  overland  high- 
way to  the  West. 

Kentucky  was  now  pursuing  a  path 
strewn  with  thorns.  Northward,  the  British 
still  held  the  military  posts  on  the  upper 
lakes,  owing  to  the  non-fulfilment  of  certain 
stipulations  in  the  treaty  of  peace.  Between 
these  and  the  settlements  south  of  the  Ohio 
lay  a  wide  area  populated  by  powerful  and 
hostile  tribes  of  Indians,  late  allies  of  the 
British,  deadly  enemies  of  Kentucky,  and 
still  aided  and  abetted  by  military  agents  of 
the  king.  To  the  South,  Spain  controlled  the 
Mississippi,  the  commercial  highway  of  the 
West;  jealous  of  American  growth,  she 
harshly  denied  to  Kentuckians  the  freedom 
of  the  river,  and  was  accused  of  turning 
against  them  and  their  neighbors  of  Tennes- 
see the  fierce  warriors  of  the  Creek  and  Cher- 
okee tribes.  On  their  part,  the  Kentuckians 
202 


Kentucky's  Path  of  Thorns 

looked  with  hungry  eyes  upon  the  rich  lands 
held  by  Spain. 

Not  least  of  Kentucky's  trials  was  the  po- 
litical discontent  among  her  own  people, 
which  for  many  years  lay  like  a  blight  upon 
her  happiness  and  prosperity.  Virginia's 
home  necessities  had  prevented  that  common- 
wealth from  giving  much  aid  to  the  West 
during  the  Revolution,  and  at  its  conclusion 
her  policy  toward  the  Indians  lacked  the  ag- 
gressive vigor  for  which  Kentuckians  pleaded. 
This  was  sufficient  cause  for  dissatisfaction; 
but  to  this  was  added  another  of  still  greater 
importance.  To  gain  the  free  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  thus  to  have  an  outlet 
to  the  sea,  long  appeared  to  be  essential  to 
Western  progress.  At  first  the  Eastern  men 
in  Congress  failed  to  realize  this  need, 
thereby  greatly  exasperating  the  over-moun- 
tain men.  All  manner  of  schemes  were  in 
the  air,  varying  with  men's  temperaments 
and  ambitions.  Some,  like  Clark — who,  by 
this  time  had,  under  the  influence  of  intem- 
perance, greatly  fallen  in  popular  esteem, 
although  not  without  followers — favored  a 
filibustering  expedition  against  the  Spanish; 
203 


Daniel  Boone 

and  later  (1788),  when  this  did  not  appear 
practicable,  were  willing  to  join  hands  with 
Spain  herself  in  the  development  of  the  con- 
tinental interior;  and  later  still  (1793-94),  to 
help  France  oust  Spain  from  Louisiana. 
Others  wished  Kentucky  to  be  an  independ- 
ent State,  free  to  conduct  her  own  affairs 
and  make  such  foreign  alliances  as  were 
needful;  but  Virginia  and  Congress  did  not 
release  her. 

Interwoven  with  this  more  or  less  secret 
agitation  for  separating  the  West  from  the 
East  were  the  corrupt  intrigues  of  Spain, 
which  might  have  been  more  successful  had 
she  pursued  a  persistent  policy.  Her  agents 
— among  whom  were  some  Western  pioneers 
who  later  found  difficulty  in  explaining  their 
conduct — craftily  fanned  the  embers  of  dis- 
content, spread  reports  that  Congress  intend- 
ed to  sacrifice  to  Spain  the  navigation  rights 
of  the  West,  distributed  bribes,  and  were 
even  accused  of  advising  Spain  to  arm  the 
Southern  Indians  in  order  to  increase  popu- 
lar uneasiness  over  existing  conditions. 
Spain  also  offered  large  land  grants  to  prom- 
inent American  borderers  who  should  lead 
204 


Kentucky's  Path  of  Thorns 

colonies  to  settle  beyond  the  Mississippi  and 
become  her  subjects — a  proposition  which 
Clark  once  offered  to  accept,  but  did  not; 
but  of  which  we  shall  see  that  Daniel 
Boone,  in  his  days  of  discontent,  took  ad- 
vantage, as  did  also  a  few  other  Kentucky 
pioneers.  Ultimately  Congress  resolved  nev- 
er to  abandon  its  claim  to  the  Mississippi 
(1787) ;  and  when  the  United  States  became 
strong,  and  the  advantages  of  union  were 
more  clearly  seen  in  the  West,  Kentucky  be- 
came a  member  of  the  sisterhood  of  States 
(1792). 

It  is  estimated  that,  between  1783  and 
1790,  fully  fifteen  hundred  Kentuckians  were 
massacred  by  Indians  or  taken  captive  to 
the  savage  towns;  and  the  frontiers  of  Vir- 
ginia and  Pennsylvania  furnished  their  full 
quota  to  the  long  roll  of  victims.  It  is  im- 
possible in  so  small  a  volume  as  this  to 
mention  all  of  even  the  principal  incidents 
in  the  catalogue  of  assaults,  heroic  defenses, 
murders,  burnings,  torturings,  escapes,  re- 
prisals, and  ambushes  which  constitute  the 
lurid  annals  of  this  protracted  border  war- 
fare. The  reader  who  has  followed  thus  far 
205 


Daniel  Boone 

this  story  of  a  strenuous  life,  will  understand 
what  these  meant;  to  what  deeds  of  daring 
they  gave  rise  on  the  part  of  the  men  and 
women  of  the  border ;  what  privation  and  an- 
guish they  entailed.  But  let  us  not  forget 
that  neither  race  could  claim,  in  this  titanic 
struggle  for  the  mastery  of  the  hunting- 
grounds,  a  monopoly  of  courage  or  of  cow- 
ardice, of  brutality  or  of  mercy.  The  In- 
dians suffered  quite  as  keenly  as  the  whites 
in  the  burning  of  their  villages,  crops,  and 
supplies,  and  by  the  loss  of  life  either  in 
battle,  by  stealthy  attack,  or  by  treachery. 
The  frontiersmen  learned  from  the  red  men 
the  lessons  of  forest  warfare,  and  often  out- 
did their  tutors  in  ferocity.  The  contest  be- 
tween civilization  and  savagery  is,  in  the  na- 
ture of  things,  unavoidable;  the  result  also 
is  foreordained.  It  is  well  for  our  peace  of 
mind  that,  in  the  dark  story  of  the  Jugger- 
naut car,  we  do  not  inquire  too  closely  into 
details. 

In  1785,  goaded  by  numerous  attacks  on 
settlers  and  immigrants,  Clark  led  a  thou- 
sand men  against  the  tribes  on  the  Wabash ; 
but  by  this  time  he  had  lost  control  of  the 
206 


Kentucky's  Path  of  Thorns 

situation,  and  cowardice  on  the  part  of  his 
troops,  combined  with  lack  of  provisions,  led 
to  the  practical  failure  of  the  expedition, 
although  the  Indians  were  much  frightened. 

At  the  same  time,  Logan  was  more  suc- 
cessful in  an  attack  on  the  Shawnese  of  the 
Scioto  Valley,  who  lost  heavily  in  killed  and 
prisoners.  In  neither  of  these  expeditions 
does  Boone  appear  to  have  taken  part. 

The  year  1787  was  chiefly  notable,  in  the 
history  of  the  West,  for  the  adoption  by  Con- 
gress of  the  Ordinance  for  the  government 
of  the  Territory  Northwest  of  the  River  Ohio, 
wherein  there  dwelt  perhaps  seven  thousand 
whites,  mostlv  unprogressive  French-Cana- 
dians, in  small  settlements  flanking  the  Mis- 
sissippi and  the  Great  Lakes,  and  in  the  Wa- 
bash  Valley.  Along  the  Ohio  were  scattered 
a  few  American  hamlets,  chiefly  in  Kentucky. 
In  the  same  year  the  Indian  war  reached 
a  height  of  fury  which  produced  a  panic 
throughout  the  border,  and  frantic  appeals 
to  Virginia,  which  brought  insufficient  aid. 
Boone,  now  a  town  trustee  of  Maysville,  was 
sent  to  the  legislature  that  autumn,  and  occu- 
pied his  seat  at  Richmond  from  October  until 
207 


Daniel  Boone 

January.  While  there,  we  find  him  strongly 
complaining  that  the  arms  sent  out  to  Ken- 
tucky by  the  State  during  the  year  were  unfit 
for  use,  the  swords  being  without  scabbards, 
and  the  rifles  without  cartridge-boxes  or 
flints. 

A  child  of  the  wilderness,  Boone  was  law- 
abiding  and  loved  peace,  but  he  chafed  at 
legal  forms.  He  had,  in  various  parts 
of  Kentucky,  preempted  much  land  in  the 
crude  fashion  of  his  day,  both  under  the 
Transylvania  Company  and  the  later  stat- 
utes of  Virginia — how  much,  it  would  now  be 
difficult  to  ascertain.  In  his  old  survey- 
books,  still  preserved  in  the  Wisconsin  State 
Historical  Library,  one  finds  numerous  claim 
entries  for  himself,  ranging  from  four  hun- 
dred to  ten  thousand  acres  each — a  tract 
which  he  called  "  Stockfield,"  near  Boones- 
borough ;  on  Cartwright's  Creek,  a  branch  of 
Beech  Fork  of  Salt  Eiver;  on  the  Licking, 
Elkhorn,  Boone's  Creek,  and  elsewhere.  The 
following  is  a  specimen  entry,  dated  "  Aperel 
the  22  1785,"  recording  a  claim  made  "  on 
the  Bank  of  Cantuckey";  it  illustrates  the 
loose  surveying  methods  of  the  time :  "  Sur- 
208 


Kentucky's  Path  of  Thorns 

vayd  for  Dal  Boone  5000  acres  begin  at  Rob- 
ert Camels  N  E  Corner  at  at  2  White  ashes 
and  Buckeyes  S  1200  p[oles]  to  3  Shuger 
trees  Ealm  and  walnut  E  666  p  to  6  Shuger 
trees  and  ash  N  1200  p  to  a  poplar  and  beech 
W  666  p  to  the  begining." 

It  did  not  occur  to  our  easy-going  hero 
that  any  one  would  question  his  right  to  as 
much  land  as  he  cared  to  hold  in  a  wilder- 
ness which  he  had  done  so  much  to  bring  to 
the  attention  of  the  world.  But  claim-jump- 
ers were  no  respecters  of  persons.  It  was 
discovered  that  Boone  had  carelessly  failed 
to  make  any  of  his  preemptions  according 
to  the  letter  of  the  law,  leaving  it  open  for 
any  adventurer  to  reenter  the  choice  claims 
which  he  had  selected  with  the  care  of  an 
expert,  and  to  treat  him  as  an  interloper. 
Suits  of  ejectment  followed  one  by  one 
(1785-98),  until  in  the  end  his  acres  were 
taken  from  him  by  the  courts,  and  the  good- 
hearted,  simple  fellow  was  sent  adrift  in  the 
world  absolutely  landless. 

At  first,  when  his  broad  acres  began  to 
melt  away,  the  great  hunter,  careless  of  his 
possessions,  appeared  to  exhibit  no  concern; 
15  209 


Daniel  Boone 

but  the  accumulation  of  his  disasters,  to- 
gether with  the  rapid  growth  of  settlement 
upon  the  hunting-grounds,  and  doubtless 
some  domestic  nagging,  developed  within 
him  an  intensity  of  depression  which  led  him 
to  abandon  his  long-beloved  Kentucky  and 
vow  never  again  to  dwell  within  her  limits. 
In  the  autumn  of  1788,  before  his  disasters 
were  quite  complete,  this  resolution  was  car- 
ried into  effect;  with  wife  and  family,  and 
what  few  worldly  goods  he  possessed,  he  re- 
moved to  Point  Pleasant,  at  the  junction  of 
the  Great  Kanawha  and  the  Ohio — in  our 
day  a  quaint  little  court-house  town  in  West 
Virginia. 


210 


CHAPTEK  XIV 

IN  THE   KANAWHA  VALLEY 

DURING  his  early  years  on  the  Kanawha, 
Boone  kept  a  small  store  at  Point  Pleasant. 
Later,  he  moved  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Charleston,  where  he  was  engaged  in  the 
usual  variety  of  occupations — piloting  immi- 
grants; as  deputy  surveyor  of  Kanawha 
County,  surveying  lands  for  settlers  and 
speculators;  taking  small  contracts  for  vic- 
tualing the  militia,  who  were  frequently 
called  out  to  protect  the  country  from  Indian 
forays;  and  in  hunting.  Some  of  his  expe- 
ditions took  him  to  the  north  of  the  Ohio, 
where  he  had  several  narrow  escapes  from 
capture  and  death  at  the  hands  of  the  enemy, 
and  even  into  his  old  haunts  on  the  Big 
Sandy,  the  Licking,  and  the  Kentucky. 

He  traveled  much,  for  a  frontiersman. 

In  1788  he  went  with  his  wife  and  their  son 

Nathan  by  horseback  to  the  old  Pennsylvania 

home  in  Berks  County,  where  they  spent  a 

211 


Daniel  Boone 

month  with  kinsfolk  and  friends.  We  find 
him  in  Maysville,  on  a  business  trip,  during 
the  year;  indeed,  there  are  evidences  of  nu- 
merous subsequent  visits  to  that  port.  In 
May  of  the  following  year  he  was  on  the 
Monongahela  River  with  a  drove  of  horses 
for  sale,  Brownsville  then  being  an  important 
market  for  ginseng,  horses,  and  cattle;  and 
in  the  succeeding  July  he  writes  to  a  client, 
for  whom  he  had  done  some  surveying,  that 
he  would  be  in  Philadelphia  during  the  com- 
ing winter. 

In  October,  1789,  there  came  to  him,  as 
the  result  of  a  popular  petition,  the  appoint- 
ment of  lieutenant-colonel  of  Kanawha  Coun- 
ty— the  first  military  organization  in  the  val- 
ley; and  in  other  ways  he  was  treated  with 
marked  distinction  by  the  primitive  border 
folk  of  the  valley,  both  because  of  his  bril- 
liant career  in  Kentucky  and  the  fact  that 
he  was  a  surveyor  and  could  write  letters. 
One  who  knew  him  intimately  at  this  time 
has  left  a  pleasing  description  of  the  man, 
which  will  assist  us  in  picturing  him  as  he 
appeared  to  his  new  neighbors :  "  His  large 
head,  full  chest,  square  shoulders,  and  stout 
212 


In  the  Kanawha  Valley 

form  are  still  impressed  upon  my  mind.  He 
was  (I  think)  about  five  feet  ten  inches  in 
height,  and  his  weight  say  175.  He  was 
solid  in  mind  as  well  as  in  body,  never  friv- 
olous, thoughtless,  or  agitated;  but  was  al- 
ways quiet,  meditative,  and  impressive,  un- 
pretentious, kind,  and  friendly  in  his  manner. 
He  came  very  much  up  to  the  idea  we  have 
of  the  old  Grecian  philosophers — particularly 
Diogenes." 

By  the  summer  of  1790,  Indian  raids 
again  became  almost  unbearable.  Fresh 
robberies  and  murders  were  daily  reported 
in  Kentucky,  and  along  the  Ohio  and  the  Wa- 
bash.  The  expedition  of  Major  J.  F.  Ham- 
tramck,  of  the  Federal  Army,  against  the 
tribesmen  on  the  Wabash,  resulted  in  the 
burning  of  a  few  villages  and  the  destruc- 
tion of  much  corn;  but  Colonel  Josiah  Har- 
mar's  expedition  in  October  against  the 
towns  on  the  Scioto  and  the  St.  Joseph,  at 
the  head  of  nearly  1,500  men,  ended  in  failure 
and  a  crushing  defeat,  although  the  Indian 
losses  were  so  great  that  the  army  was  al- 
lowed to  return  to  Cincinnati  unmolested. 
Boone  does  not  appear  to  have  taken  part  in 
213 


Daniel  Boone 

these   operations,   his   militiamen   probably 
being  needed  for  home  protection. 

The  following  year  the  General  Govern- 
ment for  the  first  time  took  the  field  against 
the  Indians  in  earnest.  For  seven  years  it 
had  attempted  to  bring  the  tribesmen  to 
terms  by  means  of  treaties,  but  without  avail. 
Eoused  to  fury  by  the  steady  increase  of  set- 
tlement north  as  well  as  south  of  the  Ohio, 
the  savages  were  making  life  a  torment  to 
the  borderers.  War  seemed  alone  the  rem- 
edy. In  June,  General  Charles  Scott,  of 
Kentucky,  raided  the  Miami  and  Wabash 
Indians.  Two  months  later  General  James 
.Wilkinson,  with  five  hundred  Kentuckians, 
laid  waste  a  Miami  village  and  captured 
many  prisoners.  These  were  intended  but 
to  open  the  road  for  an  expedition  of  far 
greater  proportions.  In  October,  Governor 
Arthur  St.  Clair,  of  the  Northwest  Territory, 
a  broken-down  man  unequal  to  such  a  task, 
was  despatched  against  the  Miami  towns 
with  an  ill-organized  army  of  two  thousand 
raw  troops.  Upon  the  fourth  of  November 
they  were  surprised  near  the  principal  Miami 
village ;  hundreds  of  the  men  fled  at  the  first 
214 


In  the  Kanawha  Valley 

alarm,  and  of  those  who  remained  over  six 
hundred  fell  during  the  engagement,  while 
nearly  three  hundred  were  wounded.  This 
disastrous  termination  of  the  campaign  de- 
moralized the  West  and  left  the  entire  border 
again  open  to  attack — an  advantage  which 
the  scalping  parties  did  not  neglect. 

While  this  disaster  was  occurring,  Boone 
was  again  sitting  in  the  legislature  at  Rich- 
mond, where  he  represented  Kanawha  Coun- 
ty from  October  17th  to  December  20th.  The 
journals  of  the  Assembly  show  him  to  have 
been  a  silent  member,  giving  voice  only  in 
yea  and  nay;  but  he  was  placed  upon  two 
then  important  committees — religion,  and 
propositions  and  licenses.  It  was  voted  to 
send  ammunition  for  the  militia  on  the  Mo- 
nongahela  and  the  Kanawha,  who  were  to  be 
called  out  for  the  defense  of  the  frontier. 
Before  leaving  Richmond,  Boone  wrote  as 
follows  to  the  governor: 

"  Monday  13th  Deer  1791 

"  Sir  as  sum  purson  Must  Carry  out  the 
armantstion    [ammunition]    to    Red    Stone 
[Brownsville,  Pa.,]  if  your  Exclency  should 
215 


Daniel  Boone 

have  thought  me  a  proper  purson  I  would 
undertake  it  on  conditions  I  have  the  apint- 
ment  to  vitel  the  company  at  Kanhowway 
[Kanawha]  so  that  I  Could  take  Down  the 
flowre  as  I  paste  that  place  I  am  your  Ex- 
celenceys  most  obedent  omble  servant 

BOONE." 


Five  days  later  the  contract  was  awarded 
to  him;  and  we  find  among  his  papers  re- 
ceipts, obtained  at  several  places  on  his  way 
home,  for  the  lead  and  flints  which  he  was 
to  deliver  to  the  various  military  centers. 
But  the  following  May,  Colonel  George  Clen- 
dennin  sharply  complains  to  the  governor 
that  the  ammunition  and  rations  which  Boone 
was  to  have  supplied  to  Captain  Caperton's 
rangers  had  not  yet  been  delivered,  and  that 
Clendennin  was  forced  to  purchase  these  sup- 
plies from  others.  It  does  not  appear  from 
the  records  how  this  matter  was  settled  ;  but 
as  there  seems  to  have  been  no  official  inquiry, 
the  non-delivery  was  probably  the  result  of  a 
misunderstanding. 

At  last,  after  a  quarter  of  a  century  of 
bloodshed,  the  United  States  Government 
216 


In  the  Kanawha  Valley 

was  prepared  to  act  in  an  effective  manner. 
General  Anthony  Wayne — "  Mad  Anthony," 
of  Stony  Point — after  spending  a  year  and 
a  half  in  reorganizing  the  Western  army, 
established  himself,  in  the  winter  of  1793-94, 
in  a  log  fort  at  Greenville,  eighty  miles 
north  of  Cincinnati,  and  built  a  strong  out- 
post at  Fort  Recovery,  on  the  scene  of  St. 
Clair's  defeat.  After  resisting  an  attack  on 
Fort  Recovery  made  on  the  last  day  of  June 
by  over  two  thousand  painted  warriors  from 
the  Upper  Lakes,  he  advanced  with  his 
legion  of  about  three  thousand  well-disci- 
plined troops  to  the  Maumee  Valley  and 
built  Fort  Defiance.  Final  battle  was  given 
to  the  tribesmen  on  the  twentieth  of  August 
at  Fallen  Timbers.  As  the  result  of  superb 
charges  by  infantry  and  cavalry,  in  forty 
minutes  the  Indian  army  was  defeated  and 
scattered.  The  backbone  of  savage  opposi- 
tion to  Northwestern  settlement  was  broken, 
and  at  the  treaty  of  Greenville  in  the  follow- 
ing summer  (1795)  a  peace  was  secured 
which  remained  unbroken  for  fifteen  years. 

Wayne's  great  victory  over  the  men  of 
the  wilderness  gave  new  heart  to  Kentucky 
217 


Daniel  Boone 

and  the  Northwest.  The  pioneers  were  ex- 
uberant in  the  expression  of  their  joy.  The 
long  war,  which  had  lasted  practically  since 
the  mountains  were  first  crossed  by  Boone 
and  Finley,  had  been  an  almost  constant 
strain  upon  the  resources  of  the  country. 
Now  no  longer  pent  up  within  palisades,  and 
expecting  nightly  to  be-  awakened  by  the 
whoops  of  savages  to  meet  either  slaughter 
or  still  more  dreaded  captivity,  men  could 
go  forth  without  fear  to  open  up  forests,  to 
cultivate  fields,  and  peaceably  to  pursue  the 
chase. 

To  hunters  like  Boone,  in  particular,  this 
great  change  in  their  lives  was  a  matter  for 
rejoicing.  The  Kanawha  Valley  was  not  as 
rich  in  game  as  he  had  hoped;  but  in  Ken- 
tucky and  Ohio  were  still  large  herds  of  buf- 
faloes and  deer  feeding  on  the  cane-brake 
and  the  rank  vegetation  of  the  woods,  and 
resorting  to  the  numerous  salt-licks  which 
had  as  yet  been  uncontaminated  by  settle- 
ment. 

After  the  peace,  Boone  for  several  sea- 
sons devoted  himself  almost  exclusively  to 
hunting;  in  beaver-trapping  he  was  espe- 
218 


In  the  Kanawha  Valley 

cially  successful,  his  favorite  haunt  for  these 
animals  being  the  neighboring  Valley  of 
the  Gauley.  His  game  he  shared  freely  with 
neighbors,  now  fast  increasing  in  num- 
bers, and  the  skins  and  furs  were  shipped 
to  market,  overland  or  by  river,  as  of  old. 

Upon  removing  to  the  Kanawha,  he  still 
had  a  few  claims  left  in  Kentucky,  but  suits 
for  ejectment  were  pending  over  most  of 
these.  They  were  all  decided  against  him, 
and  the  remaining  lands  were  sold  by  the 
sheriff  for  taxes,  the  last  of  them  going  in 
1798.  His  failure  to  secure  anything  for  his 
children  to  inherit,  was  to  the  last  a  source 
of  sorrow  to  Boone. 

The  Kanawha  in  time  came  to  be  distaste- 
ful to  him.  Settlements  above  and  below  were 
driving  away  the  game,  and  sometimes  his 
bag  was  slight;  the  crowding  of  population 
disturbed  the  serenity  which  he  sought  in 
deep  forests;  the  nervous  energy  of  these 
newcomers,  and  the  avarice  of  some  of  them, 
annoyed  his  quiet,  hospitable  soul;  and  he 
fretted  to  be  again  free,  thinking  that  civil- 
ization cost  too  much  in  wear  and  tear  of 
spirit. 

219 


Daniel  Boone 

Boone  had  long  looked  kindly  toward  the 
broad,  practically  unoccupied  lands  of  forest 
and  plain  west  of  the  Mississippi.  Adven- 
turous hunters  brought  him  glowing  tales  of 
buffaloes,  grizzly  bears,  and  beavers  to  be 
found  there  without  number.  Spain,  fear- 
ing an  assault  upon  her  possessions  from 
Canada,  was  just  now  making  flattering 
offers  to  those  American  pioneers  who 
should  colonize  her  territory,  and  by  casting 
their  fortunes  with  her  people  strengthen 
them.  This  opportunity  attracted  the  dis- 
appointed man;  he  thought  the  time  ripe  for 
making  a  move  which  should  leave  the  crowd 
far  behind,  and  comfortably  establish  him  in 
a  country  wherein  a  hunter  might,  for  many 
years  to  come,  breathe  fresh  air  and  follow 
the  chase  untrammeled. 

In  1796,  Daniel  Morgan  Boone,  his  oldest 
son,  traveled  with  other  adventurers  in  boats 
to  St.  Charles  County,  in  eastern  Missouri, 
where  they  took  lands  under  certificates  of 
cession  from  Charles  Dehault  Delassus,  the 
Spanish  lieutenant-governor  of  Upper  Lou- 
isiana, resident  at  St.  Louis.  There  were 
four  families,  all  settling  upon  Femme  Osage 
220 


In  the  Kanawha  Valley 

Creek,  six  miles  above  its  junction  with  the 
Missouri,  some  twenty-five  miles  above  the 
town  of  St.  Charles,  and  forty-five  by  water 
from  St.  Louis. 

Thither  they  were  followed,  apparently 
in  the  spring  of  1799,  by  Daniel  Boone  and 
wife  and  their  younger  children.  The  de- 
parture of  the  great  hunter,  now  in  his  sixty- 
fifth  year,  was  the  occasion  for  a  general 
gathering  of  Kanawha  pioneers  at  the  home 
near  Charleston.  They  came  on  foot,  by 
horseback,  and  in  canoe,  from  far  and  near, 
and  bade  him  a  farewell  as  solemnly  affec- 
tionate as  though  he  were  departing  for  an- 
other world;  indeed,  Missouri  then  seemed 
almost  as  far  away  to  the  West  Virginians 
as  the  Klondike  is  to  dwellers  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi basin  to-day — a  long  journey  by 
packhorse  or  by  flatboat  into  foreign  wilds, 
beyond  the  great  waterway  concerning  which 
the  imaginations  of  untraveled  men  often 
ran  riot. 

The  hegira  of  the  Boones,  from  the  junc- 
tion of  the  Elk  and  the  Kanawha,  was  ac- 
complished by  boats,  into  which  were  crowd- 
ed such  of  their  scant  herd  of  live  stock  as 
221 


Daniel  Boone 

could  be  accommodated.  Upon  the  way  they 
stopped  at  Kentucky  towns  along  the  Ohio, 
either  to  visit  friends  or  to  obtain  provisions, 
and  attracted  marked  attention,  for  through- 
out the  West  Boone  was,  of  course,  one  of 
the  best-known  men  of  his  day.  In  Cincin- 
nati he  was  asked  why,  at  his  time  of  life, 
he  left  the  comforts  of  an  established  home 
again  to  subject  himself  to  the  privations  of 
the  frontier.  "  Too  crowded !  "  he  replied 
with  feeling.  "  I  want  more  elbow-room ! " 

Arriving  at  the  little  Kentucky  colony  on 
Femme  Osage  Creek,  where  the  Spanish  au- 
thorities had  granted  him  a  thousand  ar- 
pents  *  of  land  abutting  his  son's  estate  upon 
the  north,  he  settled  down  in  a  little  log  cabin 
erected  largely  by  his  own  hands,  for  the 
fourth  and  last  time  as  a  pioneer.  He  was 
never  again  in  the  Kanawha  Valley,  and  but 
twice  in  Kentucky — once  to  testify  as  to  some 
old  survey-marks  made  by  him,  and  again  to 
pay  the  debts  which  he  had  left  when  re- 
moving to  Point  Pleasant. 

*  Equivalent  to  about  845  English  acres. 


222 


CHAPTER   XV 

A   SERENE   OLD   AGE 

MISSOURI'S  sparse  population  at  that  time 
consisted  largely  of  Frenchmen,  who  had 
taken  easily  to  the  yoke  of  Spain.  For  a 
people  of  easy-going  disposition,  theirs  was 
an  ideal  existence.  They  led  a  patriarchal 
life,  with  their  flocks  and  herds  grazing  upon 
a  common  pasture,  and  practised  a  crude  ag- 
riculture whose  returns  were  eked  out  by 
hunting  in  the  limitless  forests  hard  by.  For 
companionship,  the  crude  log  cabins  in  the 
little  settlements  were  assembled  by  the 
banks  of  the  waterways,  and  there  was  small 
disposition  to  increase  tillage  beyond  domes- 
tic necessities.  There  were  practically  no 
taxes  to  pay;  military  burdens  sat  lightly; 
the  local  syndic  (or  magistrate),  the  only 
government  servant  to  be  met  outside  of  St. 
Louis,  was  sheriff,  judge,  jury,  and  com- 
mandant combined;  there  were  no  elections, 
for  representative  government  was  unknown ; 
223 


Daniel  Boone 

the  fur  and  lead  trade  with  St.  Louis  was  the 
sole  commerce,  and  their  vocabulary  did  not 
contain  the  words  enterprise  and  speculation. 
Here  was  a  paradise  for  a  man  of  Boone's 
temperament,  and  through  several  years  to 
come  he  was  wont  to  declare  that,  next  to  his 
first  long  hunt  in  Kentucky,  this  was  the  hap- 
piest period  of  his  life.  On  the  eleventh  of 
July,  1800,  Delassus — a  well-educated  French 
gentleman,  and  a  good  judge  of  character — 
appointed  him  syndic  for  the  Femme  Osage 
district,  a  position  which  the  old  man  held 
until  the  cession  of  Louisiana  to  the  United 
States.  This  selection  was  not  only  because 
of  his  prominence  among  the  settlers  and  his 
recognized  honesty  and  fearlessness,  but  for 
the  reason  that  he  was  one  of  the  few  among 
these  unsophisticated  folk  who  could  make 
records.  In  a  primitive  community  like  the 
Femme  Osage,  Boone  may  well  have  ranked 
as  a  man  of  some  education ;  and  certainly  he 
wrote  a  bold,  free  hand,  showing  much  prac- 
tise with  the  pen,  although  we  have  seen  that 
his  spelling  and  grammar  might  have  been 
improved.  When  the  government  was  turned 
over  to  President  Jefferson's  commissioner, 
224 


w 

o 
FH 

CO 

Sz; 
»— i 

-«1 

CO 


8 


A  Serene  Old  Age 

Delassus  delivered  to  that  officer,  by  request, 
a  detailed  report  upon  the  personality  of  his 
subordinates,  and  this  is  one  of  the  entries 
in  the  list  of  syndics :  "  Mr.  Boone,  a  respect- 
able old  man,  just  and  impartial,  he  has  al- 
ready, since  I  appointed  him,  offered  his  res- 
ignation owing  to  his  infirmities — believing  I 
know  his  probity,  I  have  induced  him  to  re- 
main, in  view  of  my  confidence  in  him,  for 
the  public  good." 

Boone's  knowledge  did  not  extend  to  law- 
books,  but  he  had  a  strong  sense  of  justice; 
and  during  his  four  years  of  office  passed 
upon  the  petty  disputes  of  his  neighbors  with 
such  absolute  fairness  as  to  win  popular  ap- 
probation. His  methods  were  as  primitive 
and  arbitrary  as  those  of  an  Oriental  pasha ; 
his  penalties  frequently  consisted  of  lashes 
on  the  bare  back  "  well  laid  on ; "  he  would 
observe  no  rules  of  evidence,  saying  he 
wished  only  to  know  the  truth;  and  some- 
times both  parties  to  a  suit  were  compelled 
to  divide  the  costs  and  begone.  The  French 
settlers  had  a  fondness  for  taking  their  quar- 
rels to  court;  but  the  decisions  of  the  good- 
hearted  syndic  of  Femme  Osage,  based  solely 
16  225 


Daniel  Boone 

upon  common  sense  in  the  rough,  were  re- 
spected as  if  coming  from  a  supreme  bench. 
His  contemporaries  said  that  in  no  other 
office  ever  held  by  the  great  rifleman  did  he 
give  such  evidence  of  undisguised  satisfac- 
tion, or  display  so  great  dignity  as  in  this 
role  of  magistrate.  Showing  newly  arrived 
American  immigrants  to  desirable  tracts  of 
land  was  one  of  his  most  agreeable  duties; 
when  thus  tendering  the  hospitalities  of  the 
country  to  strangers,  it  was  remarked  that 
our  patriarch  played  the  Spanish  "  don  "  to 
perfection. 

In  October,  1800,  Spain  agreed  to  deliver 
Louisiana  to  France;  but  the  latter  found 
it  impracticable  at  that  time  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  territory.  By  the  treaty  of  April 
30,  1803,  the  United  States,  long  eager  to 
secure  for  the  West  the  open  navigation  of 
the  Mississippi,  purchased  the  rights  of 
France.  It  was  necessary  to  go  through  the 
form,  both  in  New  Orleans  and  in  St.  Louis, 
of  transfer  by  Spain  to  France,  and  then  by 
France  to  the  United  States.  The  former 
ceremony  took  place  in  St.  Louis,  the  capital 
of  Upper  Louisiana,  upon  the  ninth  of 
226 


A  Serene  Old  Age 

March,  1804,  and  the  latter  upon  the  follow- 
ing day.  Daniel  Boone's  authority  as  a 
Spanish  magistrate  ended  when  the  flag  of  his 
adopted  country  was  hauled  down  for  the  last 
time  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi. 

The  coming  of  the  Americans  into  power 
was  welcomed  by  few  of  the  people  of  Lou- 
isiana. The  French  had  slight  patience  with 
the  land-grabbing  temper  of  the  "  Yankees," 
who  were  eager  to  cut  down  the  forests,  to 
open  up  farms,  to  build  towns,  to  extend 
commerce,  to  erect  factories — to  inaugurate 
a  reign  of  noise  and  bustle  and  avarice. 
Neither  did  men  of  the  Boone  type — who  had 
become  Spanish  subjects  in  order  to  avoid 
the  crowds,  to  get  and  to  keep  cheap  lands, 
to  avoid  taxes,  to  hunt  big  game,  and  to  live 
a  simple  Arcadian  life — at  all  enjoy  this  sud- 
den crossing  of  the  Mississippi  River,  which 
they  had  vainly  hoped  to  maintain  as  a  per- 
petual barrier  to  so-called  progress. 

Our  hero  soon  had  still  greater  reason 
for  lamenting  the  advent  of  the  new  regime. 
His  sad  experience  with  lands  in  Kentucky 
had  not  taught  him  prudence.  When  the 
United  States  commission  came  to  examine 
227 


Daniel  Boone 

the  titles  of  Louisiana  settlers  to  the  claims 
which  they  held,  it  was  discovered  that  Boone 
had  failed  properly  to  enter  the  tract  which 
had  been  ceded  to  him  by  Delassus.  The 
signature  of  the  lieutenant-governor  was 
sufficient  to  insure  a  temporary  holding,  but 
a  permanent  cession  required  the  approval  of 
the  governor  at  New  Orleans;  this  Boone 
failed  to  obtain,  being  misled,  he  afterward 
stated,  by  the  assertion  of  Delassus  that  so 
important  an  officer  as  a  syndic  need  not 
take  such  precautions,  for  he  would  never  be 
disturbed.  The  commissioners,  while  highly 
respecting  him,  were  regretfully  obliged  un- 
der the  terms  of  the  treaty  to  dispossess  the 
old  pioneer,  who  again  found  himself  land- 
less. Six  years  later  (1810)  Congress  tardily 
hearkened  to  his  pathetic  appeal,  backed  by 
the  resolutions  of  the  Kentucky  legislature, 
and  confirmed  his  Spanish  grant  in  words  of 
praise  for  "  the  man  who  has  opened  the  way 
to  millions  of  his  fellow  men." 

By  the  time  he  was  seventy  years  old, 
Boone's  skill  as  a  hunter  had  somewhat  les- 
sened.   His  eyes  had  lost  their  phenomenal 
strength;  he  could  no  longer  perform  those 
228 


A  Serene  Old  Age 

nice  feats  of  marksmanship  for  which  in  his 
prime  he  had  attained  wide  celebrity,  and 
rheumatism  made  him  less  agile.  But  as  a 
trapper  he  was  still  unexcelled,  and  for  many 
years  made  long  trips  into  the  Western  wil- 
derness, even  into  far-off  Kansas,  and  at 
least  once  (1814,  when  eighty  years  old)  to 
the  great  game  fields  of  the  Yellowstone. 
Upon  such  expeditions,  often  lasting  several 
months,  he  was  accompanied  by  one  or  more 
of  his  sons,  by  his  son-in-law  Flanders  Gallo- 
way, or  by  an  old  Indian  servant  who  was 
sworn  to  bring  his  master  back  to  the  Femme 
Osage  dead  or  alive — :for,  curiously  enough, 
this  wandering  son  of  the  wilderness  ever 
yearned  for  a  burial  near  home. 

Beaver-skins,  which  were  his  chief  desire, 
were  then  worth  nine  dollars  each  in  the  St. 
Louis  market.  He  appears  to  have  amassed  a 
considerable  sum  from  this  source,  and  from 
the  sale  of  his  land  grant  to  his  sons,  and  in 
1810  we  find  him  in  Kentucky  paying  his  debts. 
This  accomplished,  tradition  says  that  he  had 
remaining  only  fifty  cents ;  but  he  gloried  in 
the  fact  that  he  was  at  last  "  square  with  the 
world,"  and  returned  to  Missouri  exultant. 
229 


Daniel  Boone 

The  War  of  1812-15  brought  Indian  trou- 
bles to  this  new  frontier,  and  some  of  the 
farm  property  of  the  younger  Boones  was 
destroyed  in  one  of  the  savage  forays.  The 
old  man  fretted  at  his  inability  to  assist  in 
the  militia  organization,  of  which  his  sons 
Daniel  Morgan  and  Nathan  were  conspicuous 
leaders;  and  the  state  of  the  border  did  not 
permit  of  peaceful  hunting.  In  the  midst  of 
the  war  he  deeply  mourned  the  death  of  his 
wife  (1813) — a  woman  of  meek,  generous, 
heroic  nature,  who  had  journeyed  over  the 
mountains  with  him  from  North  Carolina, 
and  upon  his  subsequent  pilgrimages,  shar- 
ing all  his  hardships  and  perils,  a  proper 
helpmeet  in  storm  and  calm. 

Penniless,  and  a  widower,  he  now  went  to 
live  with  his  sons,  chiefly  with  Nathan,  then 
forty-three  years  of  age.  After  being  first  a 
hunter  and  explorer,  and  then  an  industrious 
and  successful  farmer,  Nathan  had  won  dis- 
tinction in  the  war  just  closed  and  entered  the 
regular  army,  where  he  reached  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel  and  had  a  wide  and  thrill- 
ing experience  in  Indian  fighting.  Daniel 
Morgan  is  thought  to  have  been  the  first  set- 
230 


A  Serene  Old  Age 

tier  in  Kansas  (1827) ;  A.  G.  Boone,  a  grand- 
son, was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Colorado, 
and  prominently  connected  with  Western  In- 
dian treaties  and  Rocky  Mountain  explora- 
tion; and  another  grandson  of  the  great 
Kentuckian  was  Kit  Carson,  the  famous 
scout  for  Fremont's  transcontinental  expedi- 
tion. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  Yankee  regime 
confirmed  Boone's  fears.  The  tide  of  immi- 
gration crossed  the  river,  and  rolling  west- 
ward again  passed  the  door  of  the  great 
Kentuckian,  driving  off  the  game  and 
monopolizing  the  hunting-grounds.  Laws, 
courts,  politics,  speculation,  and  improve- 
ments were  being  talked  about,  to  the  bewil- 
derment of  the  French  and  the  unconcealed 
disgust  of  the  former  syndic.  Despite  his 
great  age,  he  talked  strongly  of  moving  still 
farther  West,  hoping  to  get  beyond  the  reach 
of  settlement;  but  his  sons  and  neighbors 
persuaded  him  against  it,  and  he  was  obliged 
to  accommodate  himself  as  best  he  might  to 
the  new  conditions.  In  summer  he  would 
work  on  the  now  substantial  and  prosperous 
farms  of  his  children,  chopping  trees  for  the 
231 


Daniel  Boone 

winter's  wood.  But  at  the  advent  of  autumn 
the  spirit  of  restlessness  seized  him,  when 
he  would  take  his  canoe,  with  some  relative 
or  his  Indian  servant,  and  disappear  up  the 
Missouri  and  its  branches  for  weeks  together. 
In  1816,  we  hear  of  him  as  being  at  Fort 
Osage,  on  his  way  to  the  Platte,  "in  the 
dress  of  the  roughest,  poorest  hunter."  Two 
years  later,  he  writes  to  his  son  Daniel  M. : 
"  I  intend  by  next  autumn  to  take  two  or 
three  whites  and  a  party  of  Osage  Indians 
to  visit  the  salt  mountains,  lakes,  and  ponds 
and  see  these  natural  curiosities.  They  are 
about  five  or  six  hundred  miles  west  of  here  " 
— presumably  the  rock  salt  in  Indian  Terri- 
tory; it  is  not  known  whether  this  trip  was 
taken.  He  was  greatly  interested  in  Rocky 
Mountain  exploration,  then  much  talked  of, 
and  eagerly  sought  information  regarding 
California;  and  was  the  cause  of  several 
young  men  migrating  thither.  A  tale  of 
new  lands  ever  found  in  him  a  delighted 
listener. 

In  these  his  declining  years,  although  he 
had  suffered  much  at  the  hands  of  the  world, 
Boone's  temperament,   always  kindly,  mel- 
232 


A  Serene  Old  Age 

lowed  in  tone.  Decay  came  gradually,  with- 
out palsy  or  pain;  and,  amid  kind  friends 
and  an  admiring  public,  his  days  passed  in 
tranquillity.  The  following  letter  written  by 
him  at  this  period  to  his  sister-in-law  Sarah 
(Day)  Boone,  wife  of  his  brother  Samuel,  is 
characteristic  of  the  man,  and  gives  to  us, 
moreover,  probably  the  only  reliable  account 
we  possess  of  his  religious  views : 

"  October  the  19«>  1816 

"  Deer  Sister 

"  With  pleasuer  I  Rad  a  Later  from  your 
sun  Samuel  Boone  who  informs  me  that  you 
are  yett  Liveing  and  in  good  health  Consid- 
ing  your  age  I  wright  to  you  to  Latt  you 
know  I  have  Not  forgot  you  and  to  inform 
you  of  my  own  Situation  sence  the  Death  of 
your  Sister  Eabacah  I  Leve  with  Sanders 
Calaway  But  am  at  present  at  my  sun  Na- 
thans and  in  tolarabel  halth  you  Can  gass 
at  my  feilings  by  your  own  as  we  are  So 
Near  one  age  I  Need  Not  write  you  of  our 
satuation  as  Samuel  Bradley  or  James 
grimes  Can  inform  you  of  Every  Surcom- 
stance  Relating  to  our  famaly  and  how  we 
233 


Daniel  Boone 

Leve  in  this  World  and  what  Chance  we  shall 
have  in  the  next  we  know  Not  for  my  part 
I  am  as  ignerant  as  a  Child  all  the  Relegan  I 
have  to  Love  and  fear  god  beleve  in  Jeses 
Christ  Don  all  the  good  to  my  Nighbour  and 
my  self  that  I  Can  and  Do  as  Little  harm  as 
I  Can  help  and  trust  on  gods  marcy  for  the 
Rest  and  I  Beleve  god  neve  made  a  man  of 
my  prisepel  to  be  Lost  and  I  flater  my  self 
Deer  sister  that  you  are  well  on  your  way 
in  Cristeanaty  gave  my  Love  to  all  your 
Childran  and  all  my  frends  fearwell  my 
Deer  sister 

"  DANIEL  BOONE 

"  Mrs.  Sarah  Boone 

"  N  B  I  Red  a  Later  yesterday  from  sister 
Hanah  peninton  by  hir  grand  sun  Da1  Ringe 
she  and  all  hir  Childran  are  Well  at  present 

"D  B" 

Many  strangers  of  distinction  visited  him 
at  Nathan's  home  near  the  banks  of  the  Mis- 
souri, and  the  public  journals  of  the  day 
always  welcomed  an  anecdote  of  the  great 
hunter's  prowess — although  most  of  the  sto- 
ries which  found  their  way  into  print  were 
234 


BOONE'S  EELIGIOUS  VIEWS. 

Reduced  facsimile  from  original  MS.  in  possession  of  Wisconsin  State 
Historical  Society. 


A  Serene  Old  Age 

either  deliberate  inventions  or  unconsciously 
exaggerated  traditions.  From  published  de- 
scriptions of  the  man  by  those  who  could 
discriminate,  we  may  gain  some  idea  of  his 
appearance  and  manner.  The  great  natural- 
ist Audubon  once  passed  a  night  under  a 
"West  Virginia  roof  in  the  same  room  with 
Boone,  whose  "  extraordinary  skill  in  the 
management  of  a  rifle  "  is  alluded  to.  He 
says :  "  The  stature  and  general  appearance 
of  this  wanderer  of  the  Western  forests  ap- 
proached the  gigantic.  His  chest  was  broad 
and  prominent;  his  muscular  powers  dis- 
played themselves  in  every  limb;  his  coun- 
tenance gave  indication  of  his  great  courage, 
enterprise,  and  perseverance;  and  when  he 
spoke  the  very  motion  of  his  lips  brought  the 
impression  that  whatever  he  uttered  could 
not  be  otherwise  than  strictly  true.  I  un- 
dressed, whilst  he  merely  took  off  his  hunt- 
ing-shirt and  arranged  a  few  folds  of  blan- 
kets on  the  floor,  choosing  rather  to  lie  there, 
as  he  observed,  than  on  the  softest  bed." 

Timothy   Flint,   one   of  his   early   biog- 
raphers, knew  the  "  grand  old  man  "  in  Mis- 
souri, and  thus  pictures  him:  "He  was  five 
235 


Daniel  Boone 

feet  ten  inches  in  height,  of  a  very  erect, 
clean-limbed,  and  athletic  form — admirably 
fitted  in  structure,  muscle,  temperament,  and 
habit  for  the  endurance  of  the  labors, 
changes,  and  sufferings  he  underwent.  He 
had  what  phrenologists  would  have  consid- 
ered a  model  head — with  a  forehead  pecul- 
iarly high,  noble,  and  bold — thin  and  com- 
pressed lips — a  mild,  clear,  blue  eye — a  large 
and  prominent  chin,  and  a  general  expres- 
sion of  countenance  in  which  fearlessness 
and  courage  sat  enthroned,  and  which  told 
the  beholder  at  a  glance  what  he  had  been 
and  was  formed  to  be."  Flint  declares  that 
the  busts,  paintings,  and  engravings  of 
Boone  bear  little  resemblance  to  him.  "  They 
want  the  high  port  and  noble  daring  of  his 
countenance.  .  .  .  Never  was  old  age  more 
green,  or  gray  hairs  more  graceful.  His 
high,  calm,  bold  forehead  seemed  converted 
by  years  into  iron." 

Rev.  James  E.  Welch,  a  revivalist,  thus 
tells  of  Boone  as  he  saw  him  at  his  meetings 
in  1818 :  "  He  was  rather  low  of  stature, 
broad  shoulders,  high  cheek-bones,  very  mild 
countenance,  fair  complexion,  soft  and  quiet 
236 


A  Serene  Old  Age 

in  his  manner,  but  little  to  say  unless  spoken 
to,  amiable  and  kind  in  his  feelings,  very 
fond  of  quiet  retirement,  of  cool  self-posses- 
sion and  indomitable  perseverance.  He 
never  made  a  profession  of  religion,  but  still 
was  what  the  world  calls  a  very  moral  man." 
In  1819,  the  year  before  the  death  of 
Boone,  Chester  Harding,  an  American  por- 
trait-painter of  some  note,  went  out  from  St. 
Louis  to  make  a  life  study  of  the  aged  Ken- 
tuckian.  He  found  him  at  the  time  "  living 
alone  in  a  cabin,  a  part  of  an  old  blockhouse," 
evidently  having  escaped  for  a  time  from 
the  conventionalities  of  home  life,  which 
palled  upon  him.  The  great  man  was  roast- 
ing a  steak  of  venison  on  the  end  of  his  ram- 
rod. He  had  a  marvelous  memory  of  the 
incidents  of  early  days,  although  forgetful 
of  passing  events.  "  I  asked  him,"  says 
Harding,  "if  he  never  got  lost  in  his  long 
wanderings  after  game  ?  He  said  '  No,  I  was 
never  lost,  but  I  was  bewildered  once  for 
three  days.'  "  The  portrait  is  now  in  the  pos- 
session of  the  painter's  grandson,  Mr.  Wil- 
liam H.  King,  of  Winnetka,  111.  Harding  says 
that  he  "never  finished  the  drapery  of  the 
237 


Daniel  Boone 

original  picture,  but  copied  the  head,  I  think, 
at  three  different  times."  It  is  from  this 
portrait  (our  frontispiece),  made  when 
Boone  was  an  octogenarian,  emaciated  and 
feeble— although  not  appearing  older  than 
seventy  years — that  most  others  have  been 
taken;  thus  giving  us,  as  Flint  says,  but  a 
shadowy  notion  of  how  the  famous  explorer 
looked  in  his  prime.  There  is  in  existence, 
however,  a  portrait  made  by  Audubon,  from 
memory — a  charming  picture,  representing 
Boone  in  middle  life.* 

*  The  story  of  the  original  Harding  portrait,  as  gathered 
from  statements  to  the  present  writer  by  members  of  the 
painter's  family,  supplemented  by  letters  of  Harding  himself 
to  the  late  Lyman  C.  Draper,  is  an  interesting  one.  The 
artist  used  for  his  portrait  a  piece  of  ordinary  table  oil-cloth. 
For  many  years  the  painting  was  in  the  capitol  at  Frankfort, 
Ky.,  "from  the  fact  that  it  was  hoped  the  State  would  buy 
it."  But  the  State  had  meanwhile  become  possessed  of  an- 
other oil  portrait  painted  about  1839  or  1840  by  a  Mr.  Allen, 
of  Harrodsburg,  Ky. — an  ideal  sketch,  of  no  special  merit. 
Harding's  portrait,  apparently  the  only  one  of  Boone  painted 
from  life,  was  not  purchased,  for  the  State  did  not  wish  to 
be  at  the  expense  of  two  paintings.  Being  upon  a  Western 
trip,  in  1861,  Harding,  then  an  old  man  and  a  resident  of 
Springfield,  Mass.,  rescued  his  portrait,  which  was  in  bad  con- 
dition, and  carried  it  home.  The  process  of  restoration  was 
necessarily  a  vigorous  one.  The  artist  writes  (October  6, 1861) : 
"The  picture  had  been  banged  about  until  the  greater  part 
of  it  was  broken  to  pieces.  .  .  .  The  head  is  as  perfect  as  when 
238 


A  Serene  Old  Age 

Serene  and  unworldly  to  the  last,  and 
with  slight  premonition  of  the  end,  Daniel 
Boone  passed  from  this  life  upon  the  twenty- 
sixth  of  September,  1820,  in  the  eighty-sixth 
year  of  his  age.  The  event  took  place  in  the 
home  of  his  son  Nathan,  said  to  be  the  first 
stone  house  built  in  Missouri.  The  conven- 
tion for  drafting  the  first  constitution  of  the 
new  State  was  then  in  session  in  St.  Louis. 
Upon  learning  the  news,  the  commonwealth- 
builders  adjourned  for  the  day  in  respect 
to  his  memory;  and  as  a  further  mark  of  re- 
gard wore  crape  on  their  left  arms  for  twenty 
days.  The  St.  Louis  Gazette,  in  formally 
announcing  his  death,  said :  "  Colonel  Boone 
was  a  man  of  common  stature,  of  great  en- 
it  was  painted,  in  color,  though  there  are  some  small,  almost 
imperceptible,  cracks  in  it."  The  head  and  neck,  down  to 
the  shirt-collar,  were  cut  out  and  pasted  upon  a  full -sized  can- 
vas; on  this,  Harding  had  "a  very  skilful  artist"  repaint 
the  bust,  drapery,  and  background,  under  the  former's  imme- 
diate direction.  The  picture  in  the  present  state  is,  there- 
fore, a  composite.  The  joining  shows  plainly  in  most 
lights.  Upon  the  completion  of  the  work,  Harding  offered 
to  sell  it  to  Draper,  but  the  negotiation  fell  through.  The 
restored  portrait  was  then  presented  by  the  artist  to  his  son- 
in-law,  John  L.  King,  of  Springfield,  Mass.,  and  in  due 
course  it  came  into  the  possession  of  the  latter's  son,  the  pres- 
ent owner. 

239 


Daniel  Boone 

terprise,  strong  intellect,  amiable  disposition, 
and  inviolable  integrity — he  died  universally 
regretted  by  all  who  knew  him.  .  .  .  Such 
is  the  veneration  for  his  name  and  charac- 
ter." 

Pursuant  to  his  oft-repeated  request,  he 
was  buried  by  the  side  of  his  wife,  upon  the 
bank  of  Teugue  Creek,  about  a  mile  from  the 
Missouri.  There,  in  sight  of  the  great  river 
of  the  new  West,  the  two  founders  of  Boones- 
borough  rested  peacefully.  Their  graves 
were,  however,  neglected  until  1845,  when  the 
legislature  of  Kentucky  made  a  strong  ap- 
peal to  the  people  of  Missouri  to  allow  the 
bones  to  be  removed  to  Frankfort,  where,  it 
was  promised,  they  should  be  surmounted 
by  a  fitting  monument.  The  eloquence  of 
Kentucky's  commissioners  succeeded  in  over- 
coming the  strong  reluctance  of  the  Mis- 
sourians,  and  such  fragments  as  had  not 
been  resolved  into  dust  were  removed  amid 
much  display.  But  in  their  new  abiding- 
place  they  were  again  the  victims  of  indif- 
ference; it  was  not  until  1880,  thirty-five 
years  later,  that  the  present  monument  was 
erected. 

240 


BOONE'S  MONUMENT  AT  FRANKFORT,  KENTUCKY. 


A  Serene  Old  Age 

We  have  seen  that  Daniel  Boone  was 
neither  the  first  explorer  nor  the  first  settler 
of  Kentucky.  The  trans-Alleghany  wilds 
had  been  trodden  by  many  before  him ;  even 
he  was  piloted  through  Cumberland  Gap  by 
Finley,  and  Harrodsburg  has  nearly  a  year's 
priority  over  Boonesborough.  He  had  not 
the  intellect  of  Clark  or  of  Logan,  and  his 
services  in  the  defense  of  the  country  were 
of  less  importance  than  theirs.  He  was  not 
.a  constructive  agent  of  civilization.  But  in 
the  minds  of  most  Americans  there  is  a  pa- 
thetic, romantic  interest  attaching  to  Boone 
that  is  associated  with  few  if  any  others  of 
the  early  Kentuckians.  His  migrations  in 
the  vanguard  of  settlement  into  North  Caro- 
lina, Kentucky,  West  Virginia,  and  Missouri, 
each  in  their  turn;  his  heroic  wanderings  in 
search  of  game  and  fresh  lands ;  his  activity 
and  numerous  thrilling  adventures  during 
nearly  a  half-century  of  border  warfare ;  his 
successive  failures  to  acquire  a  legal  foothold 
in  the  wilderness  to  which  he  had  piloted 
others;  his  persistent  efforts  to  escape  the 
civilization  of  which  he  had  been  the  fore- 
runner ;  his  sunny  temper  amid  trials  of  the 
17  241 


Daniel  Boone 

sort  that  made  of  Clark  a  plotter  and  a  misan- 
thrope ;  his  sterling  integrity ;  his  serene  old 
age — all  these  have  conspired  to  make  for 
Daniel  Boone  a  place  in  American  history  as 
one  of  the  most  lovable  and  picturesque  of 
our  popular  heroes ;  indeed,  the  typical  back- 
woodsman of  the  trans- Alleghany  region. 


242 


INDEX 


ABI 
A  BINGDON  (Pa.),  Boones  in,  4. 

•**•  Alleghany  Mountains,  bound 
French  claims,  19,  60 ;  border 
Valley  of  Virginia,  14  ;  pioneers 
on  eastern  foot-hills,  27,  35.  69  ; 
barrier  to  Western  advance,  13  ; 
Berkeley's  exploration,  85,  86 ; 
crossed  by  Americans,  20 ;  in 
Dunmore's  War,  105  ;  first  gov- 
ernment west  of,  122,  123. 

Allen,  ,  paints  Boone's  por- 
trait, 238. 

Amherst,  Gen.  Jeffrey,  of  British 
Army,  44. 

Appalachian  Mountains,  troughs 
of,  13-15.  See  also  Alleghany 
Mountains. 

Arkansas,  Virginia  hunters  in,  89, 
90. 

Asht ou,  Captain,  killed  by  Indians, 
185. 

Audubon,  John  James,  knew 
Boone,  10,  235,  238. 

BAKER,  John,  explores  Ken- 
tucky, 66. 

Barbour,  ,  hunts  in  Ken- 
tucky, 89,  90. 

Baton  Rouge  (La.),  North  Carolin- 
ians near,  66. 

Batts,  Thomas,  on  New  River,  86. 

Bears,  18,  56,  58,  67,  75,  76,  92, 133, 
197. 

Beaver  Creek,  Boone  on,  68. 


BOO 

Beavers,  18,  74,  229. 

Benton, ,  Kentucky  pioneer, 

125. 

Berkeley,  Gov.  William,  in  Alle- 
ghanies,  85,  86. 

Berks  County  (Pa.),  Boones  in,  4- 
15,  211,  212. 

Black  Fish,  Shawnese  chief,  148- 
157,  161-167. 

Bledsoe,  Maj.  Anthony,  militia 
leader,  134. 

Blue  Ridge,  borders  Valley  of  Vir- 
ginia, 14,  15 ;  crossed  by  Boone, 
72. 

Boiling  Spring  (Ky.),  founded,  121. 
See  also  Fort  Boiling  Spring. 

Boone,  A.  G.,  grandson  of  Daniel, 
231. 

— ,  Benjamin,  son  of  George1, 1. 

— ,  Daniel,  Dutch  painter,  7. 

— ,  Daniel,  born,  6  ;  youth,  7-15  ; 
training,  10-12 ;  education,  199, 
224 ;  moves  to  Yadkin,  16,  17 ; 
explores  Yadkin  region,  62,  C3  ; 
in  French  and  Indian  War,  21- 
23  ;  marriage,  25-27,  36  ;  list  of 
children,  43  ;  life  on  the  Yadkin, 
17-20,  28-36  ;  flees  to  Virginia, 
43,  55  ;  returns  to  Yadkin,  50,  55 ; 
visits  Florida,  64,  65  ;  early  Ken- 
tucky explorations,  24,  69,  70 ; 
trains  James,  63  ;  discontented 
in  North  Carolina,  67-39  ;  hunts 
in  Tennessee,  55, 56 ;  in  Cherokee 


243 


Daniel  Boone 


BOO 

War,  60,  55,  56  ;  carves  name  on 
trees,  56 ;  captures  criminals, 
62 ;  opinion  of  Indians,  52,  59  ; 
piloted  by  Finley,  218,  241 ; 
crosses  Cumberland  Gap,  ix,  89, 

200,  218  ;  long  hunt  in  Kentucky, 
72-84,  86,  94-97,  100,  224  ;  starts 
for  Kentucky,  101-103 ;  on  Clinch, 
103  ;  in  Dunmore's  War,  105-112  ; 
pioneer  for  Transylvania  Com- 
pany,   114-117  ;  settles   Boones- 
borough,  117-119,  124,  125;   de- 
fends Boonesborough,   137,  138, 
141,  142;   capture  of  daughter, 
134-136  ;  captured  by  Shawnese, 
146-158 ;   returns   to   Kentucky, 
174-178 ;  hunts  for  settlers,  176  ; 
robbed  of  money,  176,  177  ;  mili- 
tia leader,  112, 134,  180,  212,  213  ; 
Indian  expeditions,  181, 182, 187- 
189 ;  pilot  for  immigrants,  198, 
211,  226  ;  leaves  Boonesborough, 
180 ;  justice  of  peace,  143 ;  sur- 
veyor, 120,  121,  129,  181,  193,  198, 
208,  209,  211,   212;    member   of 
legislature,  182, 183,  215  ;  revisits 
Pennsylvania,    211,    212 ;    loses 
Kentucky  lands,  208-210,  219  ;  at 
Maysville,  201,  202,  207-210  ;  river 
trader,  201, 202 ;  life  on  Kanavrha, 
210-222  ;   "  autobiography,"  153, 
169,  199  ;  ships  furs  to  East,  197, 

201,  202  ;  moves  to  Missouri,  205, 
219-222  ;  Spanish  syndic,  224-227  ; 
hunts  in  Missouri,  220,  229-232  ; 
laments  growth  of  settlement, 
227,  231  ;    loses   Spanish   grant, 
227,  228;   pays  debts,  229;    old 
age,  228-241 ;  death  and  burial, 
239,  240;  character,  vii-ix,  200, 

232,  233,  241,  242  ;  religious  views, 

233,  234;  specimen  letters,  193- 
195,  233-235  ;  descriptions  of,  109, 
110,  212-214,  225,  235-237,  239,  240  ; 
not  first  in  Kentucky,  85 ;  Byron's 
verses,  200 ;  nature  of  services. 


BOO 

200 ;  extent  of  fame,  198,  199, 
222,  233-235  ;  portraits,  23r-2o'J  ; 
Draper's  proposed  biography, 
ix,  x. 

Boone,  Mrs.  Daniel,  marriage,  25- 
27,  36;  life  on  Yadkin,  29,  30; 
flees  to  Virginia,  43  ;  scorns  Flor- 
ida, 65  ;  in  Kentucky,  125, 158,  ItW, 
201  ;  death  and  burial,  230,  240. 

— ,  Daniel  Morgan,  son  of  Daniel, 
43  ;  in  Missouri,  220,  230,  232 ;  in 
Kansas,  230,  231. 

— ,  Edward,  brother  of  Daniel,  7  ; 
killed  by  Indians,  7, 174, 181. 

— ,  Elizabeth,  sister  of  Daniel,  7. 

— ,  George1,  grandfather  of  Daniel, 
early  life,  1-3  ;  moves  to  Penn- 
sylvania, 3,  4, 102  ;  death,  5. 

— ,  George3,  son  of  foregoing,  born, 
1 ;  in  Pennsylvania,  2-5. 

— ,  George8,  brother  of  Daniel,  7. 

— ,  Hannah,  sister  of  Daniel,  7. 

— ,  Israel1,  brother  of  Daniel,  7, 12. 

— ,  Israel',  son  of  Daniel,  43  ;  killed 
by  Indians,  189. 

— ,  James1,  son  of  George1, 1, 15. 

— ,  James',  son  of  Daniel,  43 ; 
trained  as  hunter,  63  ;  killed  by 
Indians,  102, 103. 

— ,  Jemima,  daughter  of  Daniel, 
43 ;  captured  by  Indians,  134- 
136  ;  marries  Flanders  Calloway, 
158. 

— ,  John,  son  of  George1, 1,  2, 15. 

— ,  John  B.,  son  of  Daniel,  43. 

— ,  Jonathan,  brother  of  Daniel,  7. 

— ,  Joseph,  son  of  George1, 1. 

— ,  Lavinia,  daughter  of  Daniel,  43. 

— ,  Mary1,  daughter  of  George1, 1. 

— ,  Mary',  sister  of  Daniel,  7. 

— ,  Nathan,  son  of  Daniel,  43  ;  vis- 
its Pennsylvania,  211,  212  ;  in 
Missouri,  230,  233,  239. 

— ,  Rebecca,  daughter  of  Daniel, 
43. 

— ,  Samuel1,  son  of  George1, 1. 


244 


Index 


BOO 

Boone,  Samuel8,  brother  of  Daniel, 
7,  10 ;  marries  Sarah  Day,  233. 

— ,  Samuel3,  son  of  foregoing,  233. 

— ,  Sarah1,  daughter  of  George1, 
born,  1 ;  moves  to  Pennsylvania, 
2,  3,  marries  Jacob  Stover,  4,  5. 

— ,  Sarah2,  sister  of  Daniel,  7, 12. 

— ,  Sarah  Day,  letter  from  Daniel, 
233.  See  also  Sarah  Day. 

— ,  Squire1,  father  of  Daniel,  born, 
1 ;  moves  to  Pennsylvania,  2,  3  ; 
marriage,  5  ;  life  in  Pennsylva- 
nia, 6-15  ;  expelled  by  Quakers, 
18;  moves  to  Yadkin,  15-17; 
flees  to  Virginia,  43 ;  returns  to 
Yadkin,  59  ;  life  on  Yadkin,  25. 
27  ;  death,  59. 

— ,  Squire1,  brother  of  Daniel,  7 ; 
on  Big  Sandy,  69  ;  visits  Ken- 
tucky, 72,  78-81,  84,  94-97,  100  ;  at 
Boonesborough,  117, 122,  125, 129, 
158,162. 

— ,  Susannah,  daughter  of  Daniel, 
43. 

—  family,  in  Cherokee  War,  43, 44 ; 
in  Kentucky,  43  ;  in  Missouri,  44, 
220-241. 

Boone's  Creek  (Ky.),  Boone  on, 
180,208. 

—  Creek   (Tenn.),   Boone   on,   55, 
56. 

—  Station.    See  Fort  Boone. 
Boonesborough  (Ky.),  118,  119,  121, 

124-128,  240,  241 ;  Transylvania 
convention  at,  122,  123  ;  capture 
of  girls,  134-136;  in  Revolu- 
tionary War,  137,  139,  141-143, 
148,  149,  154,  156-158,  184;  be- 
sieged by  Indians,  159-167,  169, 
186 ;  Boone's  return  to,  174-180, 
208,  209  :  incorporated,  174,  175  ; 
left  by  Boone,  180  ;  present  condi- 
tion, 175 ;  Ranck's  monograph,  x. 
Bouquet,  Gen.  Henry,  campaign 
of,  88;  treats  with  Indians,  103, 
104. 


CAL 
Bourbon  County  (Ky.),  Boone  in, 

177,  181. 
Bowman,    Col.    John,    Kentucky 

pioneer,  125  ;  militia  leader,  134  ; 

in  Revolutionary  War,   143-145, 

158,  170,  178. 
Braddock,  Gen.  Edward,  defeated 

by  French,  21-23,  25,  50,  71,  81, 

152. 
Bradley,  Edward,  Kentucky  pio- 

neer, 117. 

—  ,  Samuel,  mentioned  by  Boone, 
233. 

Bradninch  (Eng.),  early  home  of 

Boones,  1-3. 
Bridges,  James,  Kentucky  pioneer, 

117. 
Brownsville  (Pa.),  Boone  at,  212, 

215,  216. 
Bryan,   Joseph,   father-in-law   of 

Boone,  25. 

—  ,   Rebecca.      See    Mrs.    Daniel 
Boone. 

—  family,  Yadkin  pioneers,  24-27, 
36,  168  ;  in  Cherokee  War,  43,  44; 
in  Kentucky,  101,  102,  125. 

Buffaloes,  17,  18,  23,  67,  69,  70,  72, 
75,  76,  90,  92,  95,  118,  133,  158,  197. 

Bush,  William,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117. 

Byrd,  Colonel,  of  British  Army,  178. 

—  ,  Col.  William,  raids  Cherokees, 
49,  50,  56. 

Byron,  George  Noel  Gordon,  Lord, 
lines  on  Boone,  200. 


ail.),  won  by  Clark, 


159. 


Caldwell,  Capt.  William,  raids  Ken- 

tucky, 186. 

California,  Boone  interested  in,  232. 
Calk,  William,  Kentucky  pioneer, 

194. 
Calloway,  Betsey,  captured  by  In- 

dians, 135,  136  ;  marries  Samuel 

Henderson,  143. 


245 


Daniel  Boone 


CAL 

Galloway,  Fanny,  captured  by  In- 
dians, 135, 136. 

— ,  Flanders,  marries  Jemima 
Boone,  158  ;  in  Missouri,  229,  233. 

— ,  Col.  Richard,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117 ;  daughters  captured,  135, 
136  ;  accuses  Boone,  165-167. 

Campbell,  Maj.  Arthur,  in  Dun- 
more's War,  105,  108,  109;  in 
Kentucky,  126. 

— ,  Ensign  John,  in  Dunmore's 
War,  109. 

—  (Camel),  Robert,  Kentucky  pio- 
neer, 209. 

—  family,  Kentucky  pioneers,  125. 
Camp  Madison  (Ky.),  172. 
Caperton,  Captain,  militia  leader, 

216. 

Captain  Jack,  Indian  hero,  52. 
Carson,  Kit,  grandson  of  Boone, 

231. 

Cartwright's  Creek,  Boone  on,  208. 
Castle's-woods,  Boone  at,  109. 
Catawba  Indians,   relations  with 

Yadkin  settlers,  18,  19,  22,  36, 42  ; 

allies  of  whites,  45  ;  raided  by 

Northern  Indians,  96. 
Cattle-raising,  on  frontier,  8,  9,  15, 

16,   30,  31,  35,  36,  57,  58,  62,  69, 

102,  122,  127,  128,  131, 132,  140, 162, 

163,  173,  197,  223. 
Charleston   (S.  C.),   in   Cherokee 

War,  43,  46  ;  Boone  at,  169. 

—  (W.  Va.),  Boone  near,  211,  221. 

Charlottesville(Va.),  Boone  at,  182. 

Cherokee  Indians,  raided  by  North- 
ern tribes,  96 ;  relations  with 
Yadkin  settlers,  18,  19,  22  ;  war 
with  whites,  36-56,  60,  69  ;  plun- 
der Kentucky  hunters,  90, 91, 93  ; 
treaty  with  settlers,  99  ;  in  Dun- 
more's War,  104,  105, 112, 113  ;  in 
Transylvania  cession,  113-116  ;  in 
Revolutionary  War,  132, 139-144, 
160-167  ;  inflamed  by  Spain,  202, 
204. 


CUL 

Chickasaw  Indians,  in  Revolution- 
ary War,  179. 

Chillicothe  (Ohio),  Boone  near,  158. 

— ,  Little,  Shawnese  town,  151, 152, 
156,  166. 

— ,  Old,  Shawnese  town,  170. 

Chocktaw  Indians,  rob  hunters, 
67. 

Christian  family,  Kentucky  pio- 
neers, 125. 

Cincinnati,  founded,  199  ;  Clark  at, 
190  ;  Harmar,  213  ;  Boone,  222  ; 
Wayne,  218. 

Clark,  George  Rogers,  arrival  in 
Kentucky,  104,  125  ;  delegate  to 
Virginia,  133 ;  in  Dunmore's 
War,  107  ;  in  Revolutionary  War, 
125,  134,  138,  139,  158,  159,  169, 178, 
179, 181, 183,  190  ;  Wabash  expe- 
dition, 206,  207 ;  separatist  in- 
trigues, 203-205, 242;  misanthrop- 
ic, vii ;  character  of  services,  vii, 
241. 

Clendennin,  Col.  George,  militia 
leader,  216. 

Clinch  Mountain,  crossed  by 
Boone,  73. 

Coburn,  Samuel,  Kentucky  pio- 
neer, 117. 

Colorado,  A.  G.  Boone  in,  231. 

Cooley,  William,  accompanies 
Boone,  72-79. 

Cornstalk,  Shawnese  chief,  110,  111. 

Cornwallis,  Lord,  imprisons  Boone, 
182,  183. 

Covington  (Ky.),  Bowman  at,  170. 

Crabtree,  Capt.  Jacob,  Kentucky 
pioneer,  117. 

Crane,  Sergt.  John,  in  Dunmore's 
War,  109. 

Creek  Indians,  inflamed  by  Spain, 
202,  204. 

Crime,  on  frontier,  33,  34,  60-62. 

Croghan,  George,  fur-trader,  23. 

Culpeper  County  (Va.),  Boone  in, 
43. 


246 


Index 


CUM 

Cumberland  Gap,  crossed  by  Vir- 
ginia hunters,  90,  92  ;  Finley,  23, 
88  ;  Boone,  vii,  72,  73,  88,  89,  95, 
125,  230,  241 ;  in  Dunmore's  War, 
105.  See  also  Wilderness  Road. 

—  Mountains,  bound  Kentucky, 
70,  91. 

Cutbirth,  Benjamin,  friend  of 
Boone,  66  ;  in  Kentucky,  66,  67, 
101. 


~pv  ANVILLE  (Ky.),  district  capi- 

•*-'    tal,  195. 

Davie  County  (N.  C.),  Boones  in, 
27. 

Dawson,  Miss  Marjory,  aid  ac- 
knowledged, xi. 

Day,  Rebecca,  233. 

— ,  Sarah,  marries  Samuel  Boone, 
10  ;  teaches  Daniel,  10,  11. 

Deer,  18,  58,  63,  67,  72-74,  76,  92, 
133,  197. 

Delassus,  Charles  Dehault,  lieuten- 
ant-governor of  UpperLouisiana, 
220,  224,  225,  228. 

Delaware  Indians,  Christian  con- 
verts, 7,  8  ;  in  Revolutionary 
War,  156,  157,  160-167. 

Detroit,  Boone  at,  154-157, 166, 177  ; 
British  headquarters,  178,  183, 
192. 

District  of  Columbia,  Squire  Boone 
in,  43. 

Doddridge,  Joseph,  Notes  on  Vir- 
ginia, 39-41. 

Drake,  Joseph,  heads  Long  Hunt- 
ers, 91,  92. 

Draper,  Lyman  Copeland,  gathers 
Boone  manuscripts,  ix,  x  ;  let- 
ters from  Harding,  238,  239. 

Dress,  of  pioneers,  28,  29. 

Dunkin,  Sergt.  John,  in  Dunmore's 
War,  109. 

Dunmore,  Lord,  commissions 
Boone,  155,  156 ;  raids  Indians, 
105-112 ;  opposes  Henderson,  116. 

247 


FLI 

Durrett,  Col.  Reuben  T.,  aid  ac- 
knowledged, x. 
Dutchman's  Creek,  Boones  on,  17. 

TT^AGLE  Creek,  in  Indian  cam- 

-*—^    paign,  194. 

Education,  on  frontier,  10,  11,  27, 
53,224. 

Elk,  72,  75,  76,  92. 

English,  in  French  and  Indian 
War,  19-23  ;  defeat  French,  59, 
60  ;  employ  French  woodsmen, 
98 ;  fur  trade  of,  42 ;  oppose 
American  settlement,  98,  99, 202 ; 
in  Revolutionary  War,  132,  149, 
154-156,  159,  165-167,  171, 178,  186, 
190,  192 ;  designs  on  Louisiana, 
220. 

Estill,  Capt.  James,  killed  by  In- 
dians, 184, 185. 

—  County  (Ky.),  Boone  in,  73. 

Etting,  J.  Marx,  aid  acknowledged, 
xi. 

Exeter  township  (Pa.),  Booties  in, 
5-7. 


FAYETTE  County  (Ky.),  organ- 
ized, 179-182;  raided  by  In- 

dians,  186 ;  surveying,  181,  192, 

193. 

Fallen  Timbers,  battle  of,  217,  218. 
Falls  of  Ohio.    See  Louisville. 
Femme  Osage  Creek,  Boone  on, 

220-222,  224,  225,  229. 
Filson,  John,  writes  Boone's  "  au- 
tobiography," 153,  199,  200. 
Fincastle    County  (Va.),  includes 

Kentucky,  123,  195. 
Finley,  John,  early  exploration  of 

Kentucky,  22,  23,  87,  88;   tells 

Boone    thereof,    22-24,   69,   71  ; 

pilots  Boone  thither,  vii,  71-79, 

88,  200,  218,  241. 
Fishing  Creek,  Clark  on,  104. 
Flint,  Timothy,  describes  Boone, 

235,  236,  238. 


Daniel  Boone 


FLO 

Florida,  Virginia  hunters  in,  89  ; 
Boone,  64,  65. 

Floyd,  Capt.  John,  on  state  of  fron- 
tier, 136,  137  ;  in  Revolutionary 
War,  138, 180. 

Forbes,  Gen.  John,  campaign  of, 
88. 

Fort  Blackmore,  in  Dunmore's 
War,  108. 

—  Boiling  Spring,  in  Revolutionary 
War,  137. 

—  Boone  (Boone's  Station),  built, 
180. 

—  Bryan  (Ky.),  in  Revolutionary 
War,  137,  185-188. 

—  Defiance,  Wayne  at,  217. 

—  Dobbs,  erected,  37-39  ;  in  Cher- 
okee War,  41-44,  55. 

—  Duquesne.    See  Pittsburg. 

—  Elk  Garden,  in  Dunmore's  War, 
109. 

—  Estill,  attacked  by  Indians,  184. 

—  Glade    Hollow,   in    Dunmore's 
War,  109. 

—  Harrod.      See    Fort    Boiling 
Spring. 

—  Hinkson,  in  Revolutionary  War, 
137. 

—  Huston  (Ky.),  in  Revolutionary 
War,  137. 

—  Jefferson,  built  by  Clark,  179. 

—  Logan,  in  Revolutionary  War, 
137, 139,  164, 165. 

—  Loudon,  erected,  37 ;  in  Chero- 
kee War,  44,  46,  47. 

—  McClellan,    in    Revolutionary 
War,  137,  139. 

—  McConnell,   in    Revolutionary 
War,  188. 

—  McGee,  in  Revolutionary  War, 
188. 

—  Maiden  Spring,  in  Dunmore's 
War,  109. 

—  Martin,  besieged,  178. 

—  Massac,  French  at,  41,  42,  48. 

—  Moore,  in  Dunmore's  War,  108. 


FUR 
Fort  Nelson.    See  Louisville. 

—  Osage,  Boone  at,  232. 

—  Pitt.    See  Pittsburg. 

—  Price  (Ky.),  in  Revolutionary 
War,  139. 

—  Prince    George,   in    Cherokee 
War,  37,  44,  48. 

—  Recovery,  Wayne  at,  217. 

—  Robinson,  erected,  50. 

—  Ruddell,  founded,  121 ;  besieged, 
173. 

—  Russell,  in  Dunmore's  War,  108. 

—  Stanwix,  treaty  of,  99,  114,  121. 

—  Strode,  militia  rendezvous,  194. 

—  Whitley,  in  Revolutionary  War, 
137. 

—  Whitton  (Big  Crab  Orchard),  in 
Dunmore's  War,  109. 

Forts  on  frontier,  described,  37-41 ; 
methods  of  defense,  142, 143. 

Frankfort  (Ky.),  121  ;  Boone  por- 
trait at,  238  ;  Boone's  grave,  240. 

Fredericksburg  (Va.),  Boone  in,  43. 

Frelinghuysen,  Theodore,  on  Cher- 
okee bravery,  51. 

Fremont,  Gen.  John  C.,  explorer, 
231. 

French,  introduce  knives,  111  ; 
early  knowledge  of  Kentucky, 
85-87 ;  in  French  and  Indian 
War,  19-23, 66  ;  inflame  Southern 
Indians,  36,  37,  41,  42,  48,  51,  98  ; 
fall  of  New  France,  48,  60  ;  hunt- 
ing in  Kentucky,  95,  101,  197; 
employed  by  English,  98,  148, 
159,  161,  171,  178  ;  in  Northwest 
Territory,  207  ;  in  Missouri,  223- 
226,  231  ;  intrigue  against  Spain, 
204  ;  cede  Louisiana  to  United 
States,  226,  227. 

—  Creek,  French  on,  20. 

Fur  trade,  near  Philadelphia,  4, 
10  ;  French  and  English  rivalry, 
19,  20  ;  Ohio  Company,  20,  24, 
87  ;  Finley,  22,  23,  71,  83,  87,  88  ; 
Croghan,  23  ;  with  Southern  In- 


24-8 


Index 


GAS 

dians,  18,  42,  44,  58,  60, 132, 133  ; 
roving  of  traders,  67,  69 ;  Eng- 
lish operations,  87, 99,  190  ;  char- 
acter of  traders,  60,  132,  133 ; 
autumnal  caravans,  31,  58,  197 ; 
Boone's  operations,  201,  202,  219. 

GASS,  Capt.  David,  on  Clinch, 
103  ;  Kentucky  pioneer,  117. 

Gauntlet-running,  described,  154, 
155. 

Georgetown  (D.  C.),  Squire  Boone 
in,  43. 

Georgia,  Virginia  hunters  in,  91 ; 
Boone,  65 ;  increase  of  settle- 
ment, 97. 

Germans,  among  frontiersmen,  4, 
5, 14,  196. 

Girty,  George,  met  by  Boone, 
148. 

— ,  James,  met  by  Boone,  148. 

— ,  Simon,  American  renegade, 
148, 186. 

Gist,  Christopher,  explores  Ken- 
tucky, 87, 100. 

Grant,  Lieut.-Col.  James,  raids 
Cherokees,  48-50. 

Granville,  Earl,  North  Carolina 
landholder,  68. 

Great  Lakes,  French  posts  on,  19. 

—  Meadows,  defeat  of  Washing- 
ton, 20. 

Greenville  (Ohio),  treaty  of,  217. 

Grimes,  James,  mentioned  by 
Boone.  233. 

Gwynedd  township  (Pa.),  Boones 
in,  4-6. 

TTAMILTON,  GOT.  Henry,  149, 

-L-L  150 ;  relations  with  Boone, 
154-156, 161, 166  ;  imprisoned,  169, 
177. 

Hamtramck,  Maj.  J.  F.,  raids  In- 
dians, 213. 

Harding,  Chester,  paints  Boone's 
portrait,  237-239. 


HOL 

Harmar,  Col.  Josiah,  raids  Indians, 
213. 

Harper's  Ferry  (Va.),  Boones  at,  16. 

Harrisonburg  (Va.),  Boones  near, 
16. 

Harrod,  Capt.  James,  in  Revo- 
lutionary War,  134, 138, 176. 

Harrodsburg,  founded,  vii,  121, 
131,  238,  241 ;  convention  at,  133  ; 
in  Revolutionary  War,  137,  139, 
142,  143,  164 ;  seat  of  Lincoln 
County,  179. 

Hart,  David,  of  Transylvania  Com- 
pany, 114. 

— ,  John,  Kentucky  pioneer,  117. 

— ,  Nathaniel,  of  Transylvania 
Company,  114,  176,  177. 

— ,  Thomas,  of  Transylvania  Com- 
pany, 114,  176,  177. 

Hays,  William,  Boone's  son-in-law, 
117. 

— ,  Mrs.  William,  daughter  of 
Boone,  117. 

Hazelrigg,  Captain,  letters  from 
Boone,  193-195. 

Hempinstall,  Abraham,  hunts  in 
Kentucky,  89,  90. 

Henderson,  Col.  Richard,  settles 
Kentucky,  113-115,  118-120,  122- 
124,  126,  129,  133. 

— ,  Samuel,  marries  Betsey  Cal- 
loway,  143. 

Hennepin,  Father  Louis,  explora- 
tions of,  86. 

Hewett,  Gen.  Fayette,  aid  acknowl- 
edged, xi. 

Hicks,  William,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117. 

Hill,  William,  accompanies  Boone, 
69,  70. 

Hinkson,  Maj.  John,  Kentucky 
pioneer,  121. 

Hite,  Isaac,  Kentucky  pioneer,  125. 

Holden,  Capt.  Joseph,  accompa- 
nies Boone,  72-77 ;  defeated  by 
Indians,  185. 


249 


Daniel  Boone 


HOW 

Howard,  John,  in  Kentucky,  87. 

Hunting,  early  practised  by  Boone, 
9-12,  16  ;  in  Yadkin  country,  17, 
18,  28-34,  55,  58,  62,  63  ;  early 
trail  through  Cumberland  Gap, 
73, 89 ;  in  Tennessee,  55-57;  abun- 
dant in  Kentucky,  76,  98,  132, 
218 ;  Long  Hunters,  91-95 ; 
Boone's  long  Kentucky  hunt, 
72-84,  86,  94-97 ;  Boone's  con- 
temporaries, 87-91  ;  after  Revo- 
lution, in  Kentucky,  197,  211, 
218;  in  Kanawha  Valley,  218, 
219;  in  Missouri,  220,  229-232; 
profits  of,  57-59, 73-75, 229  ;  meth- 
ods employed,  75,  76  ;  camps  de- 
scribed, 63,  64;  game  decreas- 
ing, 62,  97, 124,  219.  See  also  the 
several  animals. 

TBERVILLE,   Lemoyne    d',   ex- 

•*•    plorations  of,  86. 

Illinois,  French  in,  42  ;  English, 
87. 

Indian  Territory,  mentioned  by 
Boone,  232. 

Indians,  understood  by  Boone,  viii, 
7,  8, 10 ;  influence  of  women,  46  ; 
lodge  life,  153 ;  adopt  captives, 
152,  153 ;  affected  by  fur  trade, 
133 ;  barrier  to  settlement,  98 ; 
in  eastern  Pennsylvania,  4,  7,  8, 
10,  13  ;  infest  mountain  valleys, 
14,  16 ;  in  French  and  Indian 
War,  19-23,  36-56;  raid  Yadkin 
region,  27,  36-56  ;  raid  Kentucky, 
126,  127 ;  warrior's  paths,  73,  76, 
79,  180 ;  gauntlet-running,  154, 
155 ;  methods  of  warfare,  39^41, 
52-54,  111,  140,  141,  160-167,  186- 
189,  205 ;  ethics  of  border  war- 
fare, 50-54,  206  ;  finally  quieted 
in  Northwest,  216-218.  See  also 
the  several  tribes. 

Irish,  among  frontiersmen,  14,  24, 
196. 


KEN 
Iron  Mountain,  crossed  by  Boone, 

73. 
Iroquois,  in  Kentucky,  99, 113, 114. 

JEFFERSON,  Thomas,  governor 
of  Virginia,   182;   President, 

224. 
Jefferson  County  (Ky.),  organized, 

179-181 ;  in  Revolutionary  War, 

188  ;  Lincolns  in,  174. 
Jennings,      Edmund,      Kentucky 

pioneer,  117. 
Jessamine  County  (Ky.),  Boone  in, 

101. 

Jesuits,  seek  Mississippi  River,  86. 
Johnson,  Andrew,  escapes   from 

Indians,  157. 

— ,  Thomas,  Kentucky  pioneer,  117. 
Joliet,  Louis,  discovers  Mississippi, 

86. 
Jones,  Capt.  John  Gabriel,  delegate 

to  Virginia,  133. 
Justice,  on  frontier,  61,  223,  225, 

226. 

TTANAWHA  County  (W.  Va.), 

J-^-    Boone  in,  210-222. 

Kansas,  Boone  in,  229. 

Kaskaskia  (I1L),  won  by  Clark,  159, 
190. 

Keith,  Sir  William,  governor  of 
Pennsylvania,  87. 

Kennedy,  John,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117. 

Kenton,  Simon,  scout,  125  ;  in  Rev- 
olutionary War,  141,  160,  189. 

Kentucky,  described,  82, 131.  132  ; 
debatable  land  between  tribes, 
76,  77  ;  early  explorations,  vii, 
85-87,  89-91 ;  Virginia  hunters, 
20;  Finley,  22,  23,  71,  87,  88; 
Boone's  early  explorations,  24, 
64,  68-70,  88, 89, 101  ;  Boone's  long 
hunt,  72-84, 86,  94-97;  Long  Hunt- 
ers in,  91-95 ;  Washington,  88, 
89  ;  Cutbirth,  66,  67  ;  Boone  fam- 


250 


Index 


KIN 

ily,  25,  43,  241 ;  game  abundant, 
98,  129,  218  ;  Cherokee  lands 
settled,  99  ;  early  colonial  proj- 
ects, 100 ;  Transylvania  Com- 
pany, 113-176  ;  first  settled,  vii, 
viii ;  rush  of  settlers,  104,  178, 
195-198,  207 ;  in  Dunmore's  War, 
106, 107, 113  ;  during  Revolution- 
ary War,  132-192 ;  losses  in  In- 
dian wars,  205  ;  Indians  finally 
quelled,  213-218  ;  established  as 
Virginia  County,  123,  133,  134  ; 
divided  into  three  counties,  179- 
181 ;  made  a  district,  195  ;  be- 
comes a  State,  205  ;  sends  Boone 
to  legislature,  182, 183  ;  separatist 
agitation,  202-205  ;  first  wedding, 
143 ;  first  artillery,  174 ;  hard 
winter,  173,  175,  176  ;  early  com- 
merce, 196,  197 ;  Boone  pays 
debts,  229 ;  Boone's  services  to, 
200,  201  ;  petitions  Congress  for 
Boone,  176,  177,  228 ;  obtains 
Boone's  remains,  ix,  240 ;  de- 
clines to  buy  Harding's  portrait, 
238  ;  Filson's  History,  199. 

King,  John,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117. 

— ,  John  L.,  owns  Boone  portrait, 
239. 

— ,  William  H.,  owns  Boone  por- 
trait, 237-239 ;  aid  acknowledged, 
xi. 

King  Philip,  Indian  hero,  51,  52. 

Kinkead,  Sergt.  John,  in  Dun- 
more's War,  109. 

T  ACKEY,  W.  G.,  aid  acknowl- 

-I— ^    edged,  xi. 

La  Fayette,  Gen.  Marquis  de,  in 
Virginia,  182. 

Land  grants,  to  French  and  Indian 
War  veterans,  88,  121,  131  ;  by 
Iroquois  to  whites,  114  ;  by  Cher- 
okees  to  whites,  113-116  ;  Boone 
from  Virginia,  177  ;  Boone  from 


LYT 

Spain,  222,  227,  228.     See  also 

Transylvania  Company. 
La  Salle,  Bx>bert  Cavelier,  sieur  de, 

on  Western  waters,  86. 
Law,  on  frontier,  33,  34,  224-227. 
Lederer,  John,  on  Western  waters, 

66. 
Lee,  William,  Kentucky  pioneer, 

121, 137. 
Lewis,  Gen.  Andrew,  in  Dunmore's 

War,  107,  110,  111. 

—  family,  Kentucky  pioneers.  125. 
Lexington  (Ky.),  seat  of  Fayette 

County,  179,  193  ;  in  Revolution- 
ary War,  186-188. 

Limestone.    See  Maysville. 

Lincoln,  Abraham,  Kentucky  pio- 
neer, 174. 

—  County  (Ky.),  organized,  179- 
181 ;  in  Revolutionary  War,  188. 

Linn,  Lieutenant,  marries,  143. 

Linnville  Creek,  Boones  on,  16. 

Logan,  Benjamin,  arrives  in  Ken- 
tucky, 125 ;  raids  Indians,  vii, 
134,  207  ;  in  Revolutionary  War, 
138,  144,  164,  165,  180,  181,  189; 
character  of  services,  241. 

Logan,  Chief  John,  attacks  whites, 
105. 

Long  Hunters,  in  Kentucky,  91- 
95. 

Long  Island,  of  Holston,  50. 

Long  Knives,  use  of  term,  11, 144. 

Louisiana,  North  Carolinians  in, 
66 ;  French,  19  ;  owned  by  Spain, 
220  ;  French  intrigue  against, 
204  ;  ceded  to  United  States,  224, 
226-228. 

Louisville  (Ky.),  Gist  at  site  of,  87  ; 
Finley,  22,  23,  71 ;  Washington, 
104 ;  Clark,  159  ;  Boone,  83,  129, 
193  ;  in  Revolutionary  War,  181, 
190  ;  seat  of  Jefferson  County, 
179  ;  early  growth,  196. 

Lyttleton,  William  Henry,  gov- 
ernor of  South  Carolina,  43, 55. 


251 


Daniel  Boone 


MAO 

MCAFEE      family,    Kentucky 
pioneers,  125. 
McClellan,  Alexander,   Kentucky 

pioneer,  125. 

McCulloch,  John,   explores   Ken- 
tucky, 91. 

MacDowell  family,  Kentucky  pio- 
neers, 125. 

McGary,  Maj.  Hugh,  in  Revolu- 
tionary War,  138,  188,  189. 
McKee,    Capt.    Alexander,    raids 

Kentucky,  186. 

Marquette,    Father  Jacques,   dis- 
covers Mississippi,  86. 
Marshall.  Col.  Thomas,  surveyor, 

181,  192,  193,  195. 
Martin,  Josiah,  governor  of  North 

Carolina,  116. 

Maryland,  Boones  in,  43,  59 ;  In- 
crease of  settlement,  97  ;  com- 
merce with  Kentucky,  202. 
Matthews,     Albert,     on     "  Long 

Knives,"  111. 
Maugridge,  Mary,  marries  George 

Boone1, 1. 
Mausker,  Caspar,  of  Long  Hunters, 

94. 

Maysville  (Ky.),  194 ;    in   Revolu- 
tionary War,  138  ;  Boone  at,  201, 
202,  207-210,  212. 
Medicine,  on  frontier,  32. 
Mill,  John  Stuart,  on  forcing  civi- 
lization, 51. 
Miller,  William,  Kentucky  pioneer, 

117. 

Mingo  Indians,  in  Dunmore's  War, 
105  ;  in  Revolutionary  War,  132, 
139-144,  156,  157,  161-107. 
Mingo    Junction    (Ohio),     Logan 

tragedy  near,  105. 
Missouri,  Boone  family  in,  viii,  43, 
220-241 ;  life  previous  to  cession, 
223-226  ;  first  stone  house,  239  ; 
Constitutional  Convention,  viii, 
239 ;  releases  Boone's  remains, 
240. 


NOR 
Moccasin  Gap,  followed  by  Boone, 

73. 

Monocacy  Valley,  Boone  in,  10. 
Montgomery,    Alexander,    scout, 

160. 
— ,  Col.  John,  raids  Cherokees,  44- 

46,55. 
Mooney,      James,      accompanies 

Boone,  72-79. 
Moore,    Sergeant,    in   Dunmore's 

War,  108. 

— ,  William,  Kentucky  pioneer,  117. 
Moravian  Indian  missions,  7,  8. 
Morgan,    John,    grandfather    of 

Daniel  Boone,  5. 
— ,  Sarah,  marries  Squire  Boone1, 

5,  59  ;  life  in  Oley,  5-15. 
—  family,  Welsh  settlers,  5. 
Morton,   Mrs.  Jennie   C.,  aid  ac- 
knowledged, x. 
Muskrats,  18. 

NALL,  James,  Kentucky  pio- 
neer, 117. 

Nashville  (Tenn.),  hard  winter  at, 
175. 

Neely,  Alexander,  joins  Boone, 
78-81. 

Neversink  Mountains,  Boone  in,  10. 

New  France,  fall  of,  48,  60,  87,  98. 
See  also  French. 

New  Mexico,  New  Englanders  in, 
86. 

New  Orleans,  French  at,  19  ;  Span- 
ish, 228  ;  North  Carolinians,  66, 
67 ;  Virginians,  90,  91  ;  early 
commerce  with,  197. 

New  York  (State),  Indian  upris- 
ing, 37  ;  sends  emigrants  to  Ken- 
tucky, 178. 

North  Carolina,  pioneers  of,  13-15  ; 
sends  colony  to  Louisiana,  66 ; 
Boones  in,  viii,  17-102,  241  ;  in 
French  and  Indian  War,  21-23, 
48-50,  56 ;  interest  in  Western 
settlement,  100,  138,  178;  Hen- 


252 


Index 


NOB 

derson's  colony,  118-176  ;  opposi- 
tion to  Henderson,  116, 133, 127  ; 
regulators,  61,  62  ;  rapid  settle- 
ment, 42. 

North  Wales  (Pa.),  Boones  in,  4,  5. 

Northwest  Territory,  organized, 
207. 

OHIO,    Shawnese   in,  135,  144, 
149-160,  1TO,  182,  190 ;  Boone 

hunts  in,  211,  218. 

—  Company,  founded,  20 ;  opera- 
tions of,  24  ;  laud  grants  on  Ohio 

River,  87. 
Oley  township  (Pa.),  Boones  in,  4- 

15. 

Opecancano,  Indian  hero,  52. 
Orange  County  (Va.),  settlers  hunt 

in  Kentucky,  89,  90. 
Ordinance  of  1787,  205. 
Osage    Indians,     mentioned     by 

Boone,  232. 

Otter  Creek,  Boone  on,  117. 
Otters,  18,  74. 

Owatin  Creek  (Pa.),  Boones  on,  6. 
Ozark  Mountains,  Virginians  in, 

91. 

"DAINT  Lick  Town.    See  Chilli- 

-*-      cothe,  Little. 

Panthers,  18. 

Paris  (Ky.),  fort  on  site  of,  137. 

Patterson,  Col.  Robert,  Kentucky 
pioneer,  125,  194. 

Peeke,  James,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117. 

Penn,  William,  founds  Pennsylva- 
nia, 2. 

Pennington  (Peninton),  Hannah, 
mentioned  by  Boone,  234. 

Pennsylvania,  founded  by  Penn, 
2  ;  Boones  in,  viii,  2-14,  102,  174, 
183,  211,  212  ;  Finley,  79  ;  sends 
settlers  to  southwest,  13-15,  20, 
24 ;  interest  in  Western  settle- 
ment, 138, 178  ;  increase  of  settle- 


REG 

ment,  97, 130 ;  in  French  and  In- 
dian War,  20-23,  37;  in  Revo- 
lutionary War,  148,  159 ;  losses 
in  Indian  wars,  205. 

Pensacola  (Fla.),  Boone  in,  65. 

Philadelphia,  in  time  of  Boones,  3, 
4,  10,  102,  212. 

Pickaway,  Shawnese  town,  179. 

Pittsburg,  French  at,  20,  21,  41  ; 
Virginia  hunters,  89 ;  in  Dun- 
more's  War,  105,  107  ;  in  Revo- 
lutionary War,  138,  148,  183. 

Poage,  Sergt.  W.,  in  Dunmore's 
War,  108. 

Point  Pleasant  (W.  Va.),  battle  at, 
108, 110-112  ;  Boone,  201,  210-222. 

Pompey,  negro  interpreter,  151, 
161. 

Pontiac,  Indian  hero,  52,  59,  60. 

Pope,  Col.  William,  militia  leader, 
180,  181. 

Presbyterians,  among  frontiers- 
men, 33. 

Preston,  Col.  William,  in  Dun- 
more's War,  105,  109  ;  in  Revo- 
lutionary War,  136. 

—  family,  Kentucky  pioneers,  125. 
Prestonburg  (Ky.),  Boone  near,  69, 

70. 

/QUAKERS,  Boones  of  this  per- 
^    suasion,  1,  2,  4-7,  10-12 ;  ex- 
pel  Boones,  12 ;   familiar   with 
Indians,    13 ;    among   frontiers- 
men, 14,  33. 

RANCK,    George  W.,   Boones- 
borough,  x. 

— ,  Mrs.  George  W.,  aid  acknowl- 
edged, x. 
Randolph,    Nathaniel,    Kentucky 

pioneer,  125. 

Reading  (Pa.),  Boones  near,  6. 
Red  Jacket,  Indian  hero.  52. 

—  Stone.    See  Brownsville,  Pa. 
Regulators,  in  Carolinas,  61, 101. 


253 


Daniel  Boone 


REL 

Religion,  on  frontier,  33.  See  also 
the  several  denominations. 

Revolutionary  War,  175  ;  effect  on 
proprietary  governments,  123 ; 
causes  Washington  to  turn  from 
West,  89 ;  checks  Western  col- 
onies, 100 ;  Western  interest  in, 
128,  170,  171 ;  G.  R.  Clark,  125, 
138,  139,  158,  159, 169  ;  Kentucky 
in,  132-192. 

Richmond  (Va.),  seat  of  govern- 
ment, 181,  182,  207,  208,  215. 

Ringe,  Daniel,  234. 

River  Allegheny,  French  on,  20. 

—  Big  Sandy,  Boone  on,  69-71, 211 ; 
Washington,  88. 

—  Catawba,  early  settlements  on, 
17  ;  Indian  hostilities,  42. 

—  Clinch,  Boone  on,  69,  101,  103- 
112 ;  early  settlement,  97. 

—  Cumberland,  Long  Hunters  on, 
93,  95  ;  Boone,  101 ;   in  Transyl- 
vania cession,  115  ;   in  Revolu- 
tionary War,  139. 

—  Dick's,  Boone  on,  83. 

—  Elk,  Boone  on,  221. 

—  Elkhorn,  Boone  on,  208  ;  in  Rev- 
olutionary War,  137. 

—  French  Broad,  early  settlement 
on,  97. 

—  Gauley,  Boone  on,  219. 

—  Green,  Long  Hunters  on,  93,  94 ; 
Boone,  77. 

—  Great  Miami,  Shawnese  on,  179. 

—  Holston,  Finley  on,  79  ;  Boone, 
57,  69,  73  ;  Long  Hunters,  91  ;  in 
Cherokee  War,  47,  50 ;  in  Revo- 
lutionary War,  134,  138, 144, 161  ; 
early  settlements,  97,  126. 

—  Hudson,  Iroquois  on,  99. 

—  Kanawha  (Great  Kanawha),  ex- 
plored, 86  ;  in  Dunmore's  War, 
108 ;    Boone    on,   viii,   210-222 ; 
hunting,  218,  219. 

—  Kentucky,  Boone  on,  73,  79,  83, 
112, 180,211 ;  Transylvania  settle- 


RIV 

ment,  115-119,  121  ;  crown  lands 
abutting,  121,  130 ;  capture  of 
girls,  134-136  ;  in  Revolutionary 
War,  137, 139,  176  ;  bounds  Fay- 
ette  County,  179  ;  Boone  leaves, 
201. 
River  Keowee,  Cherokees  on,  45. 

—  Licking,  Shawnese  on,  135,  137, 
151,  166,    170,   178-180,   188,  190; 
Boone,  83,  208,  211. 

—  Little  Miami,  Shawnese  on,  151, 
190  ;  in  Revolutionary  War,  160, 
170. 

—  Little  Sandy,  Washington  on,  88. 

—  Little  Tennessee,  Cherokees  on, 
45,  48,  49. 

—  Maumee,  Wayne  on,  217. 

—  Miami,  Indians  raided  on,  214. 

—  Mississippi,   Iroquois    on,    99 ; 
French,  19,  60,  85-87,  207 ;  early 
English  explorations,  20,  85-87, 
89-91  ;  North  Carolinians,  66,  67  ; 
in  Revolutionary  War,  179;  Span- 
ish,  85,   197,   198,  202-205;   free 
navigation  sought  by  West,  203- 
205,   226 ;   early  commerce  on, 
197, 198. 

—  Missouri,  Boone  on,  221,  232,234, 
240. 

—  Monongahela,  fur  trade  route, 
24  ;  Braddock  on,  71 ;  early  set- 
tlements,   98,  130 ;    Boone,   212, 
215,  216. 

—  New,  Batts  on,  86  ;  Squire  Boone, 
78 ;  settlers  explore  Kentucky, 
90,91. 

—  Nolichucky,  early  settlement  on, 
97. 

—  Ohio,  drainsVirginia,  16 ;  French 
on,  19,  20,  41,  42 ;  early  explora- 
tions, 22  ;  Virginia  hunters,  89- 
91  ;  Gist,  87  ;  Finley,  22,  23,  71 ; 
in  Dunmore's  War,  105  ;  Iroquois 
land  sale,  99 ;  Boone  on,  69,  70, 
83, 183,  201,  202, 210.  222  ;  in  Tran- 
sylvania  cession,   114,   129 ;    in 


254: 


Index 


Riv 

Revolutionary  War,  138, 151, 159, 
170 ;  Indian  wars  on,  88,  107, 
108;  early  settlements,  98,  100, 
104,  207,  214  ;  highway  for  emi- 
grants, 130, 172, 178,  184, 196, 201 ; 
early  commerce,  197, 198  ;  last  of 
Indian  raids,  213-218. 
River  Platte,  Boone  on,  232. 

—  Potomac,  fur  trade  route,  24. 

—  Powell,  Boone  on,  73, 95,  96, 125 ; 
early  settlements,  97, 102, 115,119. 

—  Red,  Boone  on,  79. 

—  Rich,  in  Dunmore's  War,  109. 

—  Rockcastle,  Indians  on,  80, 117. 

—  St.  Joseph,  Indians  raided  on, 
213. 

—  St.  Lawrence,  Indians  on,  19. 

—  Salt,  Indians  near,  190. 
,  Beech  Fork  of,  208. 

—  Sandy,  West  Fork   of,   Boone 
on,  70. 

—  Savannah,  Indians  on,  37. 

—  Schuylkill,  Boones  on,  6-15. 

—  Scioto,  Shawnese  on,  ]57,   158, 
160, 167, 207  ;  Indians  raided,  213. 

—  Shenandoah,  Boones  on,  16. 

—  Tennessee,  Indian  uprising,  37, 
45 ;  Iroquois  land  sale,  99,  114 ; 
in  Transylvania  cession,  114. 

—  Wabash,  Shawnese  on,  206, 207 ; 
French,   207;    English,    87;    in 
Dunmore's   War,    105 ;    Indians 
raided  on,  213,  214. 

—  Watauga,    Boone    on,   55,  56, 
101,  115 ;  Cherokee  council,  115, 
116, 133  ;  early  settlement,  97. 

—  Yadkin,  early  known  to  Penn- 
sylvanians,  14 ;  Bryan  family  on, 
25-27,  43 ;  Boone  family,  16-20, 
24-27,  34,  43,  55-57,  68-70,  81,  89, 
95,  96, 100,  102,  103,  125,  158,  168, 
169,  208,  209  ;  Indians  on,  18,  19, 
22,  37-56,  59,  60 ;  hunting,  17,  18, 
28-34,  55,  58  ;  trading  caravans, 
31,  58  ;  crime,  60-62  ;  Finley's  ar- 
rival, 71,  72. 


SEA 

River  Yellowstone,  Boone  on, 
229. 

Robinson,  Chief  Justice,  on  Wil- 
derness Road,  172, 173, 176. 

— ,  David,  militia  leader,  134. 

Rockingham  County  (Va.),  Boones 
in,  16  ;  Lmcolns,  174. 

Rocky  Mountains,  explorations  of, 
231,232. 

Rowan  County  (N.  C.),  Boones  in, 
25,  55,  174. 

Russell,  Henry,  killed  by  Indians, 
103. 

— ,  Col.  William,  starts  for  Ken- 
tucky, 101-103  ;  in  Dunmore's 
War,  105, 108  ;  in  Revolutionary 
War,  134. 

ST.  ASAPH  (Ky.),  founded,  121. 
St.  Augustine  (Fla.),  Boone  in, 
65. 

St.  Charles  County  (Mo.),  Boones 
in,  220-241. 

St.  Clair,  Gov.  Arthur,  raids  In- 
dians, 214,  215,  217. 

St.  Louis,  Spanish  seat,  220,  221, 
223  ;  fur  market,  229  ;  Harding 
at,  237  ;  Gazette,  239,  240. 

Salisbury  (N.  C.),  Boone  near,  18, 
62. 

Sailing,  Peter,  in  Kentucky,  87. 

Salt  Licks,  in  Kentucky,  90, 92, 118, 
146,  151  ;  near  Prestonburg,  69, 
70  ;  Big,  82,  117  ;  Big  Bone,  82, 
83,  87  ;  Blue,  82, 158,  166, 188, 189, 
194 ;  Buffalo,  17  ;  French,  101  ; 
Grassy,  181  ;  Knob,  92 ;  Lower 
Blue,  135,  147-151, 160. 

Scotch-Irish,  among  frontiersmen, 
5,  14,  22,  66,  128,  196. 

Scott,  Gen.  Charles,  raids  Indians, 
214. 

Searcy,  Bartlet,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117. 

— ,  Reuben,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117. 


255 


Daniel  Boone 


SHA 

Shawnese  Indians,  raid  Southern 
tribes,  19  ;  in  Kentucky,  23  ;  in 
Dunmore's  War,  104, 105, 107, 108, 
110-113 ;  capture  Boone,  77,  78, 
146-158  ;  capture  girls,  134-136  ; 
attack  Boone,  103  ;  in  Revolu- 
tionary War,  132,  139-144,  156, 
157,  160-167,  170,  179,  180,  lavigi, 
193  ;  raided  by  Kentuckians,  206, 
207. 

Sheltowee  (Big  Turtle),  Boone's 
Indian  name,  152. 

Silouee,  Cherokee  chief,  45. 

Sitting  Bull,  Indian  hero,  52. 

Skaggs,  Henry,  heads  Long  Hunt- 
ers, 92. 

Slavery,  among  Indians,  42;  negro, 
33,  103,  184. 

Smith,  John,  on  Indian  warfare, 
111. 

South  Carolina,  pioneers  of,  13-15  ; 
in  Cherokee  War,  43,  44,  48  ;  reg- 
ulators, 61  ;  interest  in  Western 
settlement,  138, 178. 

Southern  Indians,  attack  whites, 
60,  202,  204.  See  also  Cherokee 
Indians. 

Spanish,  extent  of  explorations, 
85 ;  control  Mississippi  River, 
202-205 ;  relations  with  Ken- 
tuckians, 197, 198,  202-205  ;  entice 
American  colonists,  204,  205,  220, 
222. 

Sports,  of  pioneers,  32,  33. 

Station  Camp  Creek,  Boone  on,  73- 
79. 

Staunton  (Va.),  Boone  at,  183. 

Stephen,  Col.  Adam,  raids  Chero- 
kees,  50. 

Stockfleld,  owned  by  Boone,  208. 

Stone,  Uriah,  in  Kentucky,  90- 
92. 

Stone  Mountain,  crossed  by  Boone, 
73. 

Stoner,  Michael,  Kentucky  pio- 
neer, 117. 


TUR 
Stuart,  John,  early  exploration  of 

Kentucky,  66,  67  ;  accompanies 

Boone,  72-80  ;  death,  80. 
Sugar  Tree  Creek,  Boones  on,  27, 

68. 
Surveying,  on  frontier,  88,  104, 107, 

119-121,  127,  131,  171,  172,  181, 192, 

193,  198,  200,  208,  209,  211,  212. 
Sycamore  Shoals,  treaty  at,  115, 

116. 

rnARLETON,  Col.  Banastre,  cap- 

J-     tures  Boone,  182. 

Tate,  Samuel,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117. 

Taylor,  Hancock,  hunts  in  Ken- 
tucky, 89,  90. 

— ,  Richard,  hunts  in  Kentucky, 
89,90. 

Tecumseh,  Indian  hero,  52. 

Tennessee,  Virginia  hunters  in,  20, 
91  ;  Boone,  55-57 ;  Cherokee 
lands  settled,  99  ;  attacked  by 
Southern  Indians,  202,  204. 

Terre  Haute  (Ind.),  Virginians  at, 
91. 

Teugue  Creek,  Boone  buried  on, 
240. 

Thoreau,  Henry  David,  likened  to 
Boone,  10. 

Todd,  Capt.  John,  Kentucky  pio- 
neer, 125, 131  ;  militia  leader,  134, 
180  ;  killed  by  Indians,  188, 189. 

Towns,  Oswell,  Kentucky  pioneer, 
117. 

Transylvania  Company,  settles 
Kentucky.  113-176,  208  ;  nullified 
by  Virginia,  134, 176. 

Trigg,  Col.  Stephen,  militia  leader, 
181 ;  killed  by  Indians,  188,  189. 

Tryon,  Gov.  William,  conflict  with 
regulators,  101  ;  runs  boundary 
line,  69. 

Turkeys,  18,  72.  76,  92,  133. 

Turtle  Creek,  Braddoek's  defeat 
on,  21. 


256 


Index 


TWl 

Twitty,  Capt.  William,  Kentucky 
pioneer,  117. 

•YTARDEMAN,  John,  Kentucky 
'  pioneer,  117. 

Vincennes  (Ind.),  won  by  Clark, 
159,  169,  190. 

Virginia,  early  Indian  hostilities, 
111  ;  early  explorations  from, 
85-87,  89-91  ;  pioneer  advance 
through,  13-15,  20 ;  Booties  in, 
16, 43, 57  ;  path  to  Kentucky,  115  ; 
in  French  and  Indian  War,  20- 
23,  37,  41,  47-49;  in  Dunmore's 
War,  105-112;  losses  in  Indian 
wars,  205  ;  sends  settlers  to  Ken- 
tucky, 178,  192 ;  opposition  to 
Henderson,  116, 123,  127, 130,  133, 
134,  176 ;  interest  in  Western 
settlement,  138 ;  regulators,  61 ; 
organizes  Kentucky  County,  123, 
133,  134,  174  ;  in  Revolutionary 
War,  148, 169, 171, 203  ;  aids  Ken- 
tucky, 138,  139,  143,  146,  150,  159, 
165,  172,  174,  190,  207,  208  ;  erects 
district  of  Kentucky,  195  ;  Boone 
in  Assembly,  182, 183, 215  ;  grants 
land  to  Boone,  177 ;  fails  to  re- 
lease Kentucky,  204. 

— ,  Valley  of,  its  pioneers,  13-16, 
19,  20,  24,  31,  35, 100,  102. 

WADDELL,    Capt.    Hugh,    in 
French  and  Indian  War,  21 ; 

in  Cherokee  War,  44,  45,  49,  50, 

55,  56. 
Walker,  Felix,  Kentucky  pioneer, 

117, 118. 

— ,  Dr.  Thomas,  In  Kentucky,  87. 
War  of  1812-15,  effect  on  Missouri, 

230. 
Ward,  John,  explores  Kentucky, 

66. 


ZIN 

Warriors1  paths,  73,  76,  79,  180. 

Washington,  George,  in  French 
and  Indian  War,  20,  21  ;  in  Ken- 
tucky, 87-89, 100.  104  ;  in  Revolu- 
tionary War,  138. 

Wayne,  Gen.  Anthony,  conquers 
Indians,  217,  218. 

Welch,  Rev.  James  E.,  describes 
Boone,  236,  237. 

Welsh,  among  frontiersmen,  4, 
5. 

West  Virginia,  pioneer  advance 
through,  13-15  ;  Boone  in,  210- 
222,  235. 

Whitley,  William,  arrives  in  Ken* 
tucky,  125. 

Wilcoxen,  Elizabeth,  marries  Ben- 
jamin Cutbirth,  66. 

Wildcats,  18. 

Wilderness  Road,  130, 146, 172-174, 
178, 184,  198,  202.  See  also  Cum- 
berland Gap. 

Wilkes  County  (N.  C.),  Boone  in, 
68. 

Wilkesboro  (N.  C.),  Boone  near, 
68. 

Wilkinson,  Gen.  James,  raids  In- 
dians, 214. 

Wisconsin  State  Historical  Society, 
possesses  Boone's  records,  ix,  x, 
208. 

Wolves,  18. 

Wood,  Col.  Abraham,  on  Western 
waters,  86. 

Wyandot  Indians,  in  Revolution- 
ary War,  184. 

"V'ENIA  (O.),  Boone  near,  151, 
^    152. 

^INZENDORF  und  Pottendorf, 
*-L    Nikolaus  Ludwig,  Count  von, 
Moravian  missionary,  7,  8. 


18 


(l) 


257 


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bes  to  fix  in  his  mind   the 
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EDWARD  ATKINSON,  LL.  D.,  PH.  D. 

COL.  T.  A.  DODGE,  U.  S.  A. 

COL.  GEORGE   E.  WARING,  JR. 

J.  B.  McMASTER,  Professor  of  History  in  the  University  of  Pennsylvania. 

CHARLES   DUDLEY  WARNER,  LL.  D. 

MAJOR  J.  W.  POWELL,  Director  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey 
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WILLIAM   T.   HARRIS,  LL.  D.,  U.  S.  Commissioner  of  Education. 

LYMAN   ABBOTT,  D.  D. 

H.  H.  BANCROFT,  author  of  "  Native  Races  of  the  Pacific  Coast." 

HARRY  PRATT  JUDSON,  Head  Dean  of  the  Colleges,  Univ.  of  Chicago. 

JUDGE  THOMAS  M.  COOLEY,  formerly  Chairman  of  the  Interstate  Com- 
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CHARLES   FRANCIS   ADAMS. 

D.  A.  SARGENT,  M.  D.,  Director  Hemenway  Gymnasium,  Harvard  Univ. 

CHARLES  HORTON  COOLEY. 

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H.  G.  PROUT,  Editor  of  the  Railroad  Gazette. 

F.  D.  MILLET,  formerly  Vice-Pres.  of  the  National  Academy  of  Design. 

F.  W.  TAUSSIG,  Professor  of  Political  Economy  in  Harvard  University. 

HENRY  VAN    BRUNT. 

H.  P.  FAIRFIELD. 

SAMUEL  W.  ABBOTT,  M.  D.,  Sec.  State  Board  of  Health,  Massachusetts, 

N.  S.  SHALER. 

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